Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition scraps new Stansted runway (Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats)

Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats <info@saffronwaldenlibdems.org.uk>

Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition scraps new Stansted runway

May 13, 2010 10:30 PM

Liberal Democrat councillors Alan Dean and Peter Wilcock at Stansted Airport

The Liberal Democrat-Conservative government has put a stop to more runways at Stansted Airport

The Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition has agreed to refuse additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted, and to cancel the third runway at Heathrow. In addition Air Passenger Duty will be replaced with a per flight duty. A high-speed rail network will be established. The Liberal Democrats have been fighting for these measures for years.

Stansted Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Dean commented "In 2002 the Liberal Democrats became the first party to oppose any new airport runways in the South East of England, following a conference amendment that I moved on behalf of Saffron Walden Constituency Liberal Democrats. At the time we had to listen to many prophets of doom who said that Stansted expansion was inevitable. How wrong they were!"

"I am calling on BAA to bow to the will of the people and withdraw its runway 2 application. I hope Uttlesford District Council will back this call."

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Uttlesford District Council, Peter Wilcock, summed up "I am delighted that the new government coalition is backing the long-held Liberal Democrat view that aviation cannot be allowed to grow at the present rate because of its impact on climate change. The coalition's opposition to more runways at Stansted Airport is a vindication of Uttlesford Council's decision to refuse planning permission for another runway at Stansted in 2006, when the council was run by the Liberal Democrats."

Alan Dean and Peter Wilcock were among the delegates to the special Liberal Democrat conference in Birmingham on Sunday 16th May, which overwhelmingly backed the coalition agreement.

You can read the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition agreement at http://snipurl.com/programme