Council leaders have welcomed the decision not to go ahead with ‘ludicrous’ plans for an airport in the Thames Estuary.
The Airport Commission today said the proposal – championed by London mayor Boris Johnson – had not been shortlisted among options to expand the UK’s airport capacity. Commission chair Sir Howard Davies said there were ‘serious doubts about the delivery and operation of a very large hub airport in the estuary’.
He added that the proposals were too costly, the economic disruption would be ‘huge’ and ‘there are environmental hurdles which it may prove impossible, or very time-consuming to surmount’.
The campaign against the plans won cross-party support locally.
Cllr Rodney Chambers, leader of Conservative-led Medway Council, said: ‘We have said all along that it should never have even been considered. The cost to the taxpayer was never fully explained and it would have resulted in the mass destruction of habitat and wildlife that could never be replaced.??
‘This scheme has been a distraction we could have done without as we worked on our existing regeneration plans to bring new jobs and homes to Medway.??
‘We have known from the start that this plan was wrong but still had to fight until the end to ensure it never got off the ground.
‘This has never been about “nimbyism”; this has been about fighting for what is right for Medway and the environment.’
Cllr Vince Maple, leader of the Labour group, said: ‘Today's announcement brings closure to so many Medway residents who have been concerned about these ludicrous proposals.??
‘I have repeatedly said an estuary airport would be bad for the environment, bad for Medway and bad for UK PLC and it is pleasing to see the Davies Commission agreeing with that position.’
The commission has shortlisted three proposals to increase capacity: an additional runway at Gatwick and two options for expanding Heathrow.
Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Geoff Juby, said: ‘I am delighted that someone has at least seen sense, and I trust that this project is now dead for good even if Boris Johnson should succeed in becoming prime minister.’
