Heathrow National Policy Statement response
Buckinghamshire County Council Leader Martin Tett has welcomed the Government’s draft National Policy Statement, setting out the principles for assessing a future application to expand Heathrow Airport. The consultation launches today (Thursday February 2).
‘This is an opportunity for residents, business and community organisations to say what they want a future application to consider,’ he said.
‘I urge everyone who is either potentially affected or with an interest in the Buckinghamshire economy and our environment to attend a consultation event and understand the implications, benefits and costs of expansion at Heathrow.
‘Heathrow is the country’s premier international gateway and post-Brexit, it’s even more important that we are a strong globally focused economy. The start of the consultation process today includes proposals on the way that future airspace changes could be considered. It is important that we can all have our say.
‘The County Council’s support for Heathrow expansion has recognised the national interest but has always been linked to large-scale mitigation of its impact, particularly for the towns and villages of south Buckinghamshire, and the Iver area in particular.
‘Working with other Councils and Heathrow Airports Limited we will be setting out what mitigation is needed and demanding that road and other improvements are delivered in a timely fashion to protect our residents, businesses and the Colne Valley Park.’
A consultation event for Buckinghamshire is being run by Department for Transport in Gerrard’s Cross at the Colston Hall on March 11. Nevertheless, residents and businesses can attend any event in February and March that is most convenient for them.
After the consultation responses are considered by Government, the National Policy Statement will be considered and voted on by Parliament later this year before it is designated by the Secretary of State for Transport.
Heathrow Airport will then bring forward an application to expand Heathrow including a third runway which will be considered at Examination before a final decision by the Secretary of State.
The National Policy Statement can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/aviation-and-airports