Blitz Bureau
Ministers have approved London City airport’s application to expand, in a decision that has disappointed climate campaigners. The airport submitted a proposal to increase capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers a year by putting on more weekend and early morning flights.
Noise pollution
Local campaigners and Newham council opposed the move, arguing the air and noise pollution would affect people living nearby and that it could potentially increase carbon emissions.
Angela Rayner, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, and Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, announced their decision on August 19.
Analysis published by The Guardian last week found that more than half of the journeys taken from the airport last year could be done in six hours or less by train. The Climate Change Committee has recommended there should be no net airport expansion in the UK if the country is going to meet its legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050.
Many English airports are seeking to expand. Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted are all pushing to increase passenger capacity via new runways or terminal expansions.
Alethea Warrington, a senior campaigner at the climate charity Possible, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that the new government has … allowed the expansion of this polluting, high-carbon project. “London City airport’s expansion will benefit only the private jet users who fly into the airport.
“The new minister for transport must explain why the government has ignored the clear scientific consensus on constraining aviation emissions – along with the advice of their own scientific advisers, the Climate Change Committee, which recommended no increase in the UK’s airport capacity – in favour of allowing more planes and more pollution.”
