CPRE's{1} President and veteran war correspondent, Sir Max Hastings, has waded into the debate over future airport expansion, likening the country to a giant aircraft carrier if the Government's forecasts for future growth in air travel are provided for{2}. Sir Max said:

'The Government's forecasts for massive expansion in air travel now represent one of the biggest threats facing the countryside. The South East would become little more than a vast aircraft carrier if the airlines have their way, while the rest of the country could have unacceptable airport expansion thrust upon it. I urge everyone who hasn't, to write to their MP and the Government now to express their concerns{3}.'

Sir Max's intervention comes today (Thursday) as Transport Secretary of State, Alistair Darling, addresses a major conference on air transport organised by the influential think tank IPPR, in London.

Paul Hamblin, Head of Transport Policy for CPRE - the Campaign to Protect Rural England - will also be speaking at the event. He will say:

'The Government's consultation on air transport has aimed to work out where unacceptable environmental damage should occur when it should have been about how to avoid that damage by managing the forecast growth in air travel.

'Ministers argue that the Air Transport White Paper should balance economic, social and environmental concerns. But whether you are concerned for rural economies, the quality of life of communities up and down the land, or the future tranquillity of the countryside - tackling the growth in aviation is a must.' 

CPRE points out:

ECONOMIC: Air travel helps fly money out of the country. Between 1997-2001 there was a net deficit in the balance of investment, with £190 billion more being invested overseas by the UK, compared with the investment coming into the UK from overseas. In the tourism sector alone, there was a £11.1 billion net deficit in 2001.  Rural economies, reliant on domestic tourism are particularly badly hit. Yet the airline industry is supported by unfair tax exemptions worth over £9 billion a year, and growing. Government forecasts for air travel are based on assumptions that costs will continue to fall. 

SOCIAL: About 5% of the population are responsible for 44% of all flights. People in the top three social classes take on average four times as many flights a year as those on the bottom three{4}.

The quality of life of communities across the country are at risk, with over 600,000 people threatened by significant noise from aviation{5}.

ENVIRONMENTAL: The Government's options for airport expansion currently threaten{6} 73 sq km of land (27 sq km of which is in the Green Belt), 44 top wildlife sites, 7 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and over 300 Listed Buildings. Growth in aviation could shatter the tranquillity of the countryside, while increasing traffic levels on our roads means twelve different motorways and up to 25 other main roads are being considered for widening. Development pressures would follow airport expansion. New homes for airport workers alone threaten greenfield sites around most expansion options. For all the options, this totals 194,370 extra houses.   

NATURAL RESOURCES: Aviation is the major consumer of energy and the fastest growing sector for emissions of greenhouse gas emissions which are leading to climate change. By 2030, emissions from aviation in the UK could more than double from 33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) at present, to 77 million tonnes. This acts against Government policy which is to achieve significant reductions overall.

Paul Hamblin concluded:

'Our message to the Government is clear{7}. We cannot go on as before. Predicting unconstrained growth in future air travel and providing for it is not an option{8}. A bit more double glazing will not drown out the cries for a better environment for our children's future.'

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Campaign to Protect Rural England exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. We promote positive solutions for the long term future of the countryside and to ensure change values its natural and built environment. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen. Founded in 1926, we now have 59,000 supporters, a branch in every county, eight regional groups, over 200 regional groups and a national office in London. CPRE is a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning. Our President is Sir Max Hastings.

2. The Government has been consulting on options for massive airport expansion in order to handle a near tripling in air traffic from 180 million passengers per annum to 501 million ppa by 2030.  Options being considered include expansion of infrastructure or use at the following airports: London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Alconbury, Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Newquay, Plymouth, Birmingham, Coventry, East Midlands Airport, Wolverhampton Business Airport, Leeds-Bradford, Newcastle, Humberside, Teesside, Manchester, and Liverpool John Lennon.  Entirely new airports have been considered at Cliffe (Kent), to the north of Bristol, and in Warwickshire on a greenfield site between Coventry and Rugby. In addition, following a planning application and public inquiry, the former RAF base at Finningley has been given approval as a site for commercial aircraft.     

3. Although the Government's formal consultation period closed on 30th June 2003, CPRE is encouraging people to continue to send their views to the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR, and to their MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA before final decisions are made towards the end of the year over the Air Transport White Paper.

4. Source: The Sky's the Limit, Institute of Public Policy Research, 2003.

5. Source: Flying to Distraction, CPRE, 2003.

6. The figures for threatened sites relate to all the options for airport expansion.  Not all of these will occur, however, and therefore the figures illustrate the scale of what is now threatened by the Government's options, rather than the total impact which decisions taken in developing the Air Transport White Paper will generate. 

7. A copy of CPRE's submission to the Future Development of Air Transport in the UK consultation is available on request.

8. In launching the consultation, Future Development of Air Transport in the UK, the Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling MP, said: 'Doing nothing is not an option' (Hansard, HoC col 847, 23.7.2002).