Labour's Green light to more flights (Southampton Liberal Democrats)

Southampton Liberal Democrats <info@southampton-libdems.org.uk>

Labour's Green light to more flights

March 30, 2006 2:00 PM

Sustainability is the key in Aviation

In a recent debate in Parliament, a Labour Minister dropped the bombshell that Southampton Airport's expansion plans would be welcomed if they meet "local demand". Unfortunately, the Minister failed to explain how this should be judged. The Minister confirmed that the Government's Airport policy, "identified.. airports such as Southampton as having an important role in the future provision of airport capacity in the southeast." She added that local Councils must take account of the Government's policy when considering airports' expansion plans.

As a result of the Government's policy, operations at Southampton Airport are more likely to be allowed to expand. During the debate, the Minister confirmed that current plans would lead to an increase in passengers from 1.5 million in 2005 to 6 million by 2030. This would result in an increase in flights. The airport owner BAA held a consultation on its expansion plans in 2005 and expects to publish its final master plan this summer.

Nationally respected campaigner Keith Reed, who lives locally, has been asked by the Southampton Lib Dems to help run their campaign against unsustainable airport expansion. Keith who was at the debate in Parliament said, "I went to a relative's funeral at the Church of the Ascension and the service kept being interrupted by planes flying overhead. It's clear that residents' lives are being destroyed by the constant noise. The Minister must be made to think again."

Hundreds of residents have signed the Local campaigner Keith Reed's petition calling on the Government to review policies which would lead to increases in noise, pollution & traffic at Southampton Airport. Keith will be handing the petition in to the Government at the end of April.

Liberal Democrats believe in creating a sustainable market in aviation at the recent Spring Conference a new aviation policy for the party was approved. This policy recognises that the aviation industry must make a contribution towards reducing carbon emissions. The policy abolishes Air Passenger Duty and replaces it with a pollution charge paid directly by the operators rather than coming straight from the passengers.

It also rules out further runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted and introduces a presumption against new runways except where there is a clear economic, social and environmental need. New runway slots would be auctioned off where they have economic value with the proceeds going to public transport.

"Scrapping air passenger duty and replacing it instead with an emissions charge on each flight will encourage airlines to improve the efficiency of their fleet as well as make more efficient use of flights by filling more seats on flights," said Tom Brake MP when he moved the motion.

"Cleaner more efficient aircraft will be taxed less, meaning that passengers travelling on these aircraft would pay a smaller pollution charge than those travelling on more polluting airlines. That is why we need better information for passengers so that they can make informed choices on how often they fly, as well as with whom they choose to fly."