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Pro-Heathrow truckers dismayed at Davies Commission decision delay
NEWS that government plans to defer a decision on the third runway for southeast of England until 2016 has dismayed British truckers.
"It抯 disappointing to hear that there will be no announcement until the end of the year," said Freight Transport Association (FTA) chief executive David Wells.
"This is further evidence that the importance of air freight is being overlooked," he said in a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron.
The FTA urged the government to put more urgency into its decision but also specifically insisted that it must choose Heathrow over Gatwick.
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association said the delay risked damaging British businesses, reported UK trade journal Construction Index.
London's Financial Times indicated that it had been briefed by Whitehall sources that when Sir Howard Davies delivers his final recommendations he will say no decision will be taken before the end of the year.
The Davies Commission has spent three years studying how best to meet future aviation demand in southeast England.
The final shortlist comes down to a second runway at Gatwick, a completely new third runway at Heathrow or lengthening Heathrow抯 northern runway and splitting it into two.
The FTA also said any delay in a decision would damage the freight industry, adding that Heathrow is a critical hub for air cargo and must be allowed to expand.
FTA chief Mr Wells said in his letter to the PM that a refusal to expand Heathrow would increase freight and logistics costs across the UK.
"Eighty per cent of freight is carried in the holds of scheduled passenger aircraft using Heathrow airport. Gatwick does not possess the infrastructure to handle the volumes of cargo required," said Mr Wells.
"Air cargo is vital to the UK economy and increased transport costs will inevitably be passed on to the consumer," he said.
Meanwhile it has also emerged this week that Heathrow and Gatwick airports have spent GBP1.7 million (US$2.6 million) and GBP1.6 million respectively on their runway expansion advertising campaigns across the London transport network.
This is not including all the newspaper campaigns and other advertising, marketing and lobbying that they have been doing.
"It抯 disappointing to hear that there will be no announcement until the end of the year," said Freight Transport Association (FTA) chief executive David Wells.
"This is further evidence that the importance of air freight is being overlooked," he said in a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron.
The FTA urged the government to put more urgency into its decision but also specifically insisted that it must choose Heathrow over Gatwick.
The Civil Engineering Contractors Association said the delay risked damaging British businesses, reported UK trade journal Construction Index.
London's Financial Times indicated that it had been briefed by Whitehall sources that when Sir Howard Davies delivers his final recommendations he will say no decision will be taken before the end of the year.
The Davies Commission has spent three years studying how best to meet future aviation demand in southeast England.
The final shortlist comes down to a second runway at Gatwick, a completely new third runway at Heathrow or lengthening Heathrow抯 northern runway and splitting it into two.
The FTA also said any delay in a decision would damage the freight industry, adding that Heathrow is a critical hub for air cargo and must be allowed to expand.
FTA chief Mr Wells said in his letter to the PM that a refusal to expand Heathrow would increase freight and logistics costs across the UK.
"Eighty per cent of freight is carried in the holds of scheduled passenger aircraft using Heathrow airport. Gatwick does not possess the infrastructure to handle the volumes of cargo required," said Mr Wells.
"Air cargo is vital to the UK economy and increased transport costs will inevitably be passed on to the consumer," he said.
Meanwhile it has also emerged this week that Heathrow and Gatwick airports have spent GBP1.7 million (US$2.6 million) and GBP1.6 million respectively on their runway expansion advertising campaigns across the London transport network.
This is not including all the newspaper campaigns and other advertising, marketing and lobbying that they have been doing.
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