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Cameron admits need for more air capacity
Prime Minster David Cameron has admitted the government must find ways to increase air capacity in the south east to maintain the UK’s position as a major aviation hub.
Cameron also confirmed that the coalition would be looking at the feasibility of building a new hub airport in the Thames estuary which has been dubbed ‘Boris Island’.
“I'm not blind to the need to increase airport capacity, particularly in the south east,” said Cameron in a speech to the Institute of Civil Engineering yesterday outlining the government’s infrastructure plans including possible road tolls.
“We are acting now to make the best use of existing capacity - Gatwick is emerging as a business airport for London, under a new owner competing with Heathrow.
“But we need to retain our status as a key global hub for air travel, not just a feeder route to bigger airports elsewhere, in Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Dubai.
“This will be controversial. We will need to take decisions for the long-term - and we will be bringing forward options in our aviation strategy which will include an examination of the pros and cons of a new airport in the Thames estuary.”
Cameron added that the UK’s planning system for infrastructure projects was “much too expensive and unbelievably slow”.
“It took almost 20 years to get Terminal 5 at Heathrow. It will take at least 14 years for the first section of High Speed 2 to open,” he said.
“High Speed Two is a project that will transform connections in our country, just as motorways did in the 1960s.
“It’s not only about a quicker line between London and Birmingham - that is just the first stage - but it’s about a national network that connects to Leeds and Manchester with faster, better services.”
The government is due to reveal its aviation strategy plans later this spring. It is looking at all options – apart from a third runway at Heathrow which continues to be ruled out by all of the major three political parties in the UK.
Last week, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh blasted the government’s aviation policy as an “unholy mess”.
Do you agree with Walsh's assessment of the UK's aviation policy? Vote in our online poll on the ABTN home page by clicking here
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