Heathrow expansion gets go-ahead

[xxMATTGxx]

Sources for the BBC have said that Heathrow has been given the go-ahead for the expansion.

Expansion of Heathrow airport has been approved by a committee of ministers, sources tell the BBC.

Ministers approved the decision at the cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday morning.

However, Downing Street has yet to officially confirm the decision.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will make a statement to the House of Commons around lunchtime on Tuesday, But the decision faces a long consultation before it becomes final.

A study last year, led by Sir Howard Davies, recommended a third runway at Heathrow but other options included a new runway at Gatwick or extending one of Heathrow's existing runways.

Last week Prime Minister Theresa May moved to head off possible Cabinet resignations by giving ministers freedom to speak out against the decision. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Justine Greening have been vocal critics of Heathrow expansion.

Downing Street said any ministers wanting to voice their opposition to the plans would have to seek permission from the prime minister in advance.

Ms Greening is expected to give her reaction to the decision in a message to her constituents in Putney, south-west London, a source said.

Following the announcement, a public consultation will be held on the effects of airport expansion and then a final decision by the Government, which will be part of a National Policy Statement on Aviation.

This will be put to MPs for a vote in the winter of 2017-18. It is unlikely that any new runway capacity would be operational before 2025.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37760187


But yes, years of discussion and consulting to come before anything actually gets built.

[Cerys]

ABOUT BLOOMIN' TIME.

[-:Undertaker:-]

A laughing stock that it has already taken this long and will take even longer. What would the Victorians make of us?

Standby for Zac Goldsmith MP calling a by-election though.

[xxMATTGxx]

And it's officially confirmed:

The Department for Transport has confirmed the government has given its backing for a third runway at Heathrow.

"In a major boost for the UK economy the government today announced its support for a new runway at Heathrow – the first full length runway in the south-east since the second world war," it says

What a joke that it has taken this long to even get to here. And it's not even the end of it, there's going to be a few more years of talks, decisions and whatever else before it even gets started!

[Alkaz]

Im glad it isn't Gatwick. I like it just how it is there xox

[-:Undertaker:-]

And looks like he is calling a by-election.

Whether he stands as Independent or still Conservative we'll see in next few hours. Although I disagree with him on Heathrow expansion he is representing his constituents and I would certainly vote for him in the coming by-election. He's one of my favourite MPs.

[AgnesIO]

Outrageous that it has taken this long already, and even more years to go!

Fly from Heathrow regularly, so great to see they went for this instead of Gatwick. Just a shame by the time it is built I probably won't be around to make use of it so much.

[Lucy]

I expect to be travelling through the UK a lot going forwards as my company expands, but I will probably be retired and company bankrupt before this occurs.

[xxMATTGxx]

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said a third runway at Heathrow is "undeliverable", according to Press Association.

It quotes him as also saying: "I think it very likely it will be stopped."

The former London mayor confirmed to the BBC earlier that he would continue to oppose his colleague's decision to approve the airport's expansion.

Let's say it does get stopped. More delays to any sort of expansion that is needed to the airports in the London area, sigh.

[iBlueBox]

I always thought the third option of a new airport would make sense, didnt boris propose an island base airport