TORIES REFUSE TO OPPOSE MORE RUNWAYS AT HEATHROW AND GATWICK

Calls by Liberal Democrats for no more runways at Heathrow and Gatwick were voted down by the Conservatives at County Hall yesterday.

Cllr Ian Beardsmore, (Sunbury Common and Ashford Common) said: "With Heathrow claiming that expansion there would mean 120,000 new jobs, there is deep concern as to where these people will live and the consequent impact on the green belt. The local councils near to Heathrow are already struggling to meet housing demand. A similar threat remains should Gatwick be chosen over Heathrow with large areas of countryside in the southern part of Surrey at risk of being destroyed. The Conservatives refused to face up to or to answer these concerns."

Cllr Beardsmore added: " Liberal Democrats recognise the important role of both airports in the Surrey economy and the nation and did not propose any reduction in the current airport capacity."

Cllr Hazel Watson (Dorking Hills), Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Surrey County Council said: "There is considerable concern by many Surrey residents about proposals for additional runways at both Heathrow and Gatwick. Many residents are currently adversely affected by aircraft noise by both airports. Also both Heathrow and Gatwick bring a significant amount of traffic to Surrey, clogging up our roads. The M25 at present often resembles a car park . Additional runways at either or both airports would make these existing problems even worse. There is no benefit to Surrey if additional runways are built at Heathrow or Gatwick as unemployment in the County is very low."

Cllr Watson concluded: "it is very disappointing that the Conservatives did not support our calls for no further runways at Heathrow and Gatwick to protect Surrey and Surrey residents from the adverse consequences."