Heathrow Third Runway will be bad for Edinburgh

7.01.00am GMT Thu 15th Jan 2009

Local Liberal Democrat campaign Fred Mackintosh has attacked the Labour Government decision to build a third runway at Heathrow airport. On Wednesday 28 January 2009 the Labour Government succeeded in defeating an opposition motion calling for a review of the plans for a third runway.

"A third runway means more flights and more pollution. Quite apart from the major impact on climate change from a third runway Labour's plans mean less money to spend on a high speed rail line from London to Edinburgh" said Fred Mackintosh.

"We can't go on expanding aviation if we are serious about climate change. People need to get to London and the South East and a high speed line should be at the forefront of Government plans not an aspiration"

Edinburgh South's Labour has told constituents that the felt able to support the runway plans because of Government plans to order a targeted cut in all UK aircraft emissions to below 2005 levels.

"It does not make alot of sense to try to cut emissions from aircraft by allowing the expansion of the largest airport in the country to make possible a 50% increase its the capacity to carry larger aircraft" said Fred Mackintosh

Related Link:

Find out more about the Lib Dem campaign against Heathrow's new runway.