12 October 2009 - Commenting on BAA’s decision to halt plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP said:

“So BAA has finally come to its senses and scrapped plans to build a third runway at Heathrow. This is fantastic news for local people and environmental campaigners, who have mounted an outstanding opposition to this reckless and misguided project. It has long been clear that expansion at Heathrow would be both environmentally and economically unsustainable – and this message finally seems to have got through.

“And while the Tories may try to claim some credit for the BAA u-turn, it’s worth remembering that although they opposed Heathrow as soon as it was deemed popular to do so, they have consistently supported airport expansion elsewhere in the UK. The proposals for the ‘Boris Island’ airport in the Thames Estuary are proof enough that Conservative policy on the environment is half-hearted, inconsistent and opportunistic".

ENDS