（中央社倫敦2009年1月14日法新電）「英國廣播公司」（BBC）報導，英國政府明天將同意倫敦希斯羅（Heathrow）機場增建第三條跑道計劃。希斯羅機場是世界最大的國際空運中心。
過去以來一直運作反對這項90億英鎊（約新台幣4332.2 億元）增建跑道計劃、執政黨工黨國會議員薩爾特（Martin Salter）表示，預期政府將同意增建案。
薩爾特說：「情勢看起來不太好，我預期明天會有決定。我預期它將是一項錯誤的決定，讓這條跑道進行增建。」
增建跑道計劃已引起環保團體和當地居民的激烈反對，他們擔心將增加廢氣排放，但企業界人士和航空公司說，此舉對英國經濟很重要，且能創造工作機會。
首相布朗（Gordon Brown）所屬的工黨中，有40多位國會議員反對這項增建計劃，薩爾特是其中之一。據報導，內閣的意見也很分歧，主要的反對黨保守黨也反對此案。
The government has given the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow, saying it is "right" for the UK but opponents have vowed to fight the plans.
Environmental campaigners, residents and many MPs attacked the decision but business groups and unions welcomed it.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs that strict measures would be put in place to limit noise and emissions.
The debate was halted and local MP John McDonnell thrown out after he grabbed the mace and shouted "disgrace".
Alongside the commitment to a new runway and a sixth terminal, Mr Hoon also announced increased investment in public transport, including the possibility of new high-speed rail links from the airport.
 | WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? MPs told of decision Planning process begins - this will take years Legal challenge likely in days If Tories win next election they would scrap plan If all goes according to government plan, construction would start in 2015 Third runway due to finish 2019  |
In an effort to appease critics he said airlines using the new runway would be required to use the newest, least-polluting aircraft.
He told MPs the government was satisfied environmental targets could be met, as it would put an initial cap on additional flights from the new runway of 125,000 a year, would ensure new slots were "green slots" used by only the "cleanest planes" and would set a new target on aircraft emissions - that they would be lower in 2050 than in 2005.
"Taken together this gives us the toughest climate change regime for aviation of any country in the world," he told MPs.
He also announced he would set up a company to look into creating a high-speed rail line between London and Scotland - adding there was a "strong case" for a new high speed rail hub at Heathrow.
A feasibility study carried out in 2007 concluded that this could cost up to £30bn.
Heathrow 'hub'
Mr Hoon also announced plans to spend up to £6bn increasing motorway capacity across the country, through widening and allowing drivers to use the hard shoulder at busy times.
But he ruled out ending "mixed mode" use of runways - where planes land on one runway until 3pm then the other for the rest of the day to give residents a break from noise.
However, he said the Cranford agreement, which limits planes taking off to the east of the airport, would end, which he said would benefit Windsor to the west of the airport and Hatton and North Feltham to the east.
| READ THE DOCUMENT Most computers will open this document automatically but you may need Adobe Reader |
He told MPs Heathrow was "our most important international gateway".
"It connects us with the growth markets of the future - essential for every great trading nation," he told MPs.
"But for too long it has operated at full capacity, losing ground to international hub airports in other countries and with relatively minor problems causing severe delays to passengers."
He said the construction of the new runway alone would create up to 60,000 jobs and would ensure "Britain remains a place where the world can come to do business".
The debate was halted when John McDonnell, whose constituency includes Heathrow, shouted "disgrace" as the transport secretary said MPs would not get a vote on the decision.
Labour unease
After marching from the backbenches to the despatch box he picked up the ceremonial mace and placed it on an MPs' bench - he refused requests to end his protest, was ordered out of the Commons and suspended for a week.
The government has long argued, in principle, that it is in favour of the scheme, subject to pollution limits and access concerns.
But there has been deep unease within Labour ranks, with several cabinet members reported to be unconvinced and more than 50 Labour MPs openly opposed.
At a press conference in Berlin ahead of the Commons statement, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he wanted to "protect the economic future of the country while, at the same time, meeting the very tough environmental conditions we have set ourselves".
|  It is at risk and if it continues to decline, then the consequences for west London and the Thames Valley will be very, very serious indeed  Lord Soley Future Heathrow |
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers told BBC Radio 4's Today any government environmental promises would be shown "to not be worth the paper they are written on" and said her party would cancel the project if they win the next general election.
In the Commons she said: "This is a bleak day for our environment and for all those of us who care about safeguarding it."
The Liberal Democrats also oppose the third runway and have urged ministers to invest in high-speed rail links instead.
Their spokeswoman, Susan Kramer, told the BBC the arguments in favour of expansion were "glib" and south west London would become a "pretty miserable" place to live.
"There's this conventional wisdom amongst business that you must grow the airport ... it just isn't held up by the reality. Actually Heathrow has been serving fewer destinations over the last ten years."
The statement to MPs marks the start of the planning process which would be a lengthy one, even without the opposition and legal challenges expected.
Work on a new runway is unlikely to start until 2015 and it is not expected to be operational for at least a decade.
About 700 homes will have to be demolished to make way for the runway, which will increase the number of flights using Heathrow from about 480,000 a year now to 702,000 by 2030.
'At risk'
Environmental campaigners say the decision leaves the government's legal commitment to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050 in tatters.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told the BBC the plans represented "constrained expansion" with strict rules on air quality and noise.
But Greenpeace director John Sauven said: "If Gordon Brown thinks this is a green runway then he must be colour-blind.
"This package is designed to patch up a cabinet split and will do very little to reduce the huge environmental impact of an expanded Heathrow, which will now become the single biggest emitter of carbon-dioxide in the country."
I presume it's being built due to the increased demand of flying. I would like to see the air industry make real efforts to develop eco-friendly fuel and clean propulsions systems, though.
Barbara Reid, spokeswoman for an all-party group of local authorities, said they were discussing mounting a legal challenge against the government.
"We are talking to our lawyers," she added.
Supporters of the runway say the UK economy will lose business to the rest of Europe if it does not go ahead, pointing out that rival airports such as Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam already have at least four runways.
Former Labour MP Lord Soley, campaign director of Future Heathrow, which represents groups in favour of expanding the airport, said Heathrow brought jobs and "prosperity" to west London and the Thames Valley that was "at risk".
The boss of British Airways, Willie Walsh, said he was "very pleased" by the decision and welcomed the fact the scheme would be subject to "very strict environmental conditions".
Richard Lambert, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said: "This approach to expanding Heathrow's capacity makes real sense. It will create the integrated transport system necessary for an economy that needs to grow in an environmentally sustainable fashion."
沒有留言:
張貼留言