Euro-MP welcomes Rugby airport victory

4.45.19pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Dec 2003

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has welcomed today's announcement by Transport Minister Alastair Darling to block Government proposals to build a new airport between Coventry and Rugby, but has expressed concerns about their intention to allow the building of another runway at Birmingham International Airport.

"The decision not to progress with Government plans for a whole new airport in Warwickshire is a vindication of the hard work thousands of local people put in to campaign against it. The proposals would have been disastrous and it is gratifying that politicians from all parties stood united in opposing it.

"My only regret is that as soon as it had become clear 12 months ago that the plans had absolutely no support from within even the aviation industry itself, the Government should have set people's minds at rest by formally ruling it out."

On the second runway at Birmingham International Airport, Liz Lynne said:

"Instead of announcing the building of a new runway in Birmingham by 2016, the Government could have set out an action plan to ensure that one would not be necessary by that date. The people of Birmingham and Solihull have been deeply let down today.

"Birmingham International Airport is already in a relatively built up area and an additional runway, together with the noise and pollution it will create, will be intolerable to local people."

On the White Paper's proposals on Wolverhampton Business Airport, Liz Lynne said:

"The Government has decided to sit on the fence on this one, which is a welcome result of the excellent opposition campaign by local people. I am pleased that the matter will be left for local people to decide and hope this will put an end to the expansion plans that have been suggested."