REPORT DOES NOT SHOW TRUE COSTS OF HEATHROW EXPANSION - KRAMER (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

REPORT DOES NOT SHOW TRUE COSTS OF HEATHROW EXPANSION - KRAMER

July 16, 2009 5:27 PM
Originally published by Susan Kramer

Susan Kramer is thanked for her talk to H&F Lib Dem's Summer Party

Susan Kramer MP speaks to H&F Lib Dems

Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, speaking to Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats, slammed a report by the British Chamber of Commerce into the business case for Heathrow expansion.

The report states that a third runway at Heathrow would add £30bn to the UK economy, but does not take into account environmental costs or the impact of more flights on quality of life.

Mrs Kramer, guest speaker at H&F Lib Dems Summer Party, and Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Heathrow, told local party members "I have talked to many businesses about the issue of Heathrow expansion, and I have never been told about any member of staff who missed a vital meeting because they were unable to get a flight to where they needed to go".

"This report ignores the real costs of Heathrow expansion: to the environment and to the productivity of all those living under the flight path.

"Businesses are now finding ways to work that don't involve flying staff across the world, in order to cut costs at a time of economic crisis and to protect the environment. The BCC needs to wake up to the fact that the business case for Heathrow expansion just does not stack up."

The Summer Party was a great success and many thanks to Sophie for hosting it (again).