The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has accused the Government of a “flagrant abuse of the planning process” over Heathrow’s Terminal 5, claiming that expansion of the airport is being pushed through by stealth.
The TCPA claims that Roy Vandermeer, the T5 planning inspector, has recommended that the terminal should go ahead, but with a cap on aircraft movements that has already been exceeded – effectively putting a stop to any further capacity growth for the airport.
However, the Association has alleged that the Government is stoking up calls by London business for a third runway at Heathrow.
Gideon Amos, TCPA director, said: “This is a blatant attempt to prepare the ground for the Government to overturn the Inspector’s rumoured recommendation. Early on, BAA gave the Inspector a specific undertaking that a third runway was not part of their plans and should play no part in the discussion. The attempt now to open a second front of argument, involving a third runway, would render the entire £70m, four-year inquiry, a complete waste of time. These tactics are anti-democratic and represent a flagrant abuse of the planning process.”
But Stephen O’Brien, chief executive of the business lobbying group London First, dismissed the claim that London businesses were pushing for a third runway at Heathrow. “We have to have Terminal Five, and it’s also clear that somewhere in south east England we have to have increased capacity. But more smaller airports in and around London, like City Airport, would seem to be a perfectly sensible solution,” he said.
The TCPA, which opposes T5, said: “This is brewing as another great planning fiasco. It is time to blow the whistle on these devious tactics.”
Sir Peter Hall, TCPA Trustee, said: “There has been an inquiry. Let us now see the inspector’s conclusions, and let us plan for London and the UKs long-term airport needs in an open and accountable way”.
EGi News 23/07/01
