Author Archives: Mike Thornton MP

Mike Thornton MP writes…Don’t commit to no increase in runways

By Mike Thornton MP | Mon 1st September 2014 - 2:45 pm

The prospect of airport expansion is hugely controversial. It sparks an inevitable tug-o-war between those who see larger airports as key to economic growth, and those worried about the impact on the environment.

Many people, including in my own party, are rightly concerned about the potential damage increased airport capacity could cause. These feelings can be particularly acute in London, especially around Heathrow, where residents endure noise and dread the prospect of more flights.

Our Liberal Democrat pre-manifesto – set by our party’s working groups and committees – looks set to include a commitment to no net increase in runways across the UK. But I believe Lib Dem’s ambitions for a greener future must also fit with our vision for a stronger economy and a fairer society – and that means looking for opportunities for growth across the whole country. Our concerns about pollution and noise from today’s aeroplanes may be less relevant to the next generation of cleaner and quieter aircraft in twenty, thirty and forty years’ time.