Yesterday, at the Lib Dem Conference, Heathrow Airport’s reception enjoyed a high turnout of interested party members.
Welcoming the packed room, Heathrow’s Nigel Milton said, “If we had known how many friends we had within the Liberal Democrat party we would have booked a bigger room.”
Speaking at the event Lord Wallace said the team at Heathrow found itself “among friendly critics.”
Airport expansion in London and the South East is a policy the Liberal Democrats have continuously opposed. Lord Wallace recognised the anti-expansion position was long held and one of ‘the easiest campaigning topics if you live within 20 miles of Heathrow’, but perhaps one which needed to be updated.
“We recognise there is an economic case. The sunk investment in West London, in the entire economy is something we can’t ignore. We also want to insist on the environmental dimension of this. To Liberal Democrats in particular, the question of air quality is fundamental,” he said.
The Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport, Baroness Randerson set out the dilemma facing many party members outside of London who might be more supportive of expansion:
“We believe in hearing the arguments. Outside London there are plenty of members of the party who would support Heathrow. We tried to change the party’s policy last year and it didn’t work. It was a very bruising experience. We won’t change it now”.
She continued, “If the decision is made, despite our opposition, we have got to work as hard as we can to make the Heathrow option as environmentally friendly as possible.”
Noting the party’s concerns, Nigel Milton emphasised the Lib Dem’s are being listened to, saying:
“We don’t see eye to eye on Heathrow expansion but what we have always done is engage constructively with the party to make sure we understand the legitimate and valid concerns you have and make sure we do what we can to address those.
“As a result of that input by many of your colleagues over the last five years, we have come up with a proposal which in the view of the Airports Commission balances the economy with the environment”.
He went on to thank the party and local opposition groups for their ‘constructive engagement’ as it resulted in a new proposal that, ‘looks at expanding the airport in a way that is more environmentally acceptable.’
In regards to new plans, Lord Wallace made clear that proper rail links were lacking at Heathrow as it stands now, and would need to be ’high up in any discussion’ commenting:
“I have never quite understood why we have not developed at Heathrow over the last 20 years the sort of through railway link that Schiphol has. I would place that high up in any discussion of further development at Heathrow.’’
By 2030, Heathrow will better connect north, south, east and west with Crossrail, Western Rail Access, Southern Rail Access, high speed rail connections at Old Oak Common.
On a closing note, Lord Wallace added there was a responsibility on aircraft manufacturers to reduce the noise of aircraft or to put in place restrictions on loud aircraft:
“Getting more advanced quiet aircraft and increasing the penalties for noisy aircraft flying in an out are also very important part of reassurance.
That is the sort of package that needs to be presented if we are to change the debate.”