Quotes on Aviation
We've been talking to politicians, experts and the public...
Politicians
We sent our detailed response to the Government consultation to our representatives in parliament and local government. This is how they responded (some of them we agree with, some of them we don't!):
Councillor M. Kane (Northenden Ward):
"The belief in a 'no growth' scenario, I believe, is misplaced. Not only do many people living in Northenden Ward use the Airport but many of their jobs depend either directly or indirectly on it. As I represent a ward which is in the top 12% of poorest in the country, I could not and would not support such an idea."
Councillor Tommy Judge (Sharston Ward):
"As Wythenshawe Councillor I also have some concerns over future developments at Manchester Airport and the impact this has on the people of Wythenshawe. I also recognise that Wythenshawe has a number of wards that fall within the bottom 10% of the most deprived areas in the country. My main objective is to ensure Wythenshawe residents are able to gain access to economic beneifts that the Airport brings, but at the same time ensuring that the environment in which people have to live is the best possible, not only for this generation but for future generations."
Chris Davies (MEP North West England):
"I am opposed to the construction of new airports in the United Kingdom, believing any expansion should be based and restricted to existing facilities.... At the Liberal Democrat Party conference in Brighton on Monday 23rd September 2002, we had a debate on Airports on a motion entitled 'Tackling the UK Airports Crisis'. This motion, which was passed by conference:
- stressed the importance of introducing an aviation fuel tax to encourage more fuel-efficient aircraft;
- underlined the need for more support to be given to regional airports so that these could be developed;
- opposed a third runway at Heathrow Airport and allowed no increase in the number of flights beyond the cap of 480,000 flights.
An additional amendment added that any further airport development in the South East of England would be opposed until the Government abandoned their 'predict and provide' policy in relation to airports and runways."
Tom Brakes, Lib Dem Shadow Minister for Transport has also added:
"It is clear the the Government intends to adopt a policy of 'predict and provide' for new airport and runways. Yet this is a policy they abandoned for road building as it was ineffective. Heathrow's growth cannot be allowed to continue unchecked, particularly as its expansion prevents the development of regional airports which is vital for the growth of regional economies."
Experts
Professor John Whitelegg:
"The airline industry has been very successful in winning subsidies and support and for its expansion on the back of flawed arguments claiming that airports are vital for the local economy. This is simply not true and airports account for small numbers of jobs, only 0.6% in the Northwest, and are just as likely to accelerate job loss to other parts of the world as they are to bring jobs to Manchester. It's now time for aviation to grow up, pay its own way and pay for the huge damage that it causes to the local and global environment."
Tyndall Centre's Dr Simon Shackley:
"Aviation is one of the fastest growing sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK. If aviation continues to expand at its current rate, then by 2030 the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aviation alone will represent approximately 40% of the total CO2 emissions in the UK that the government is aiming for by 2050. Aviation should not be entitled to such a disproportionately high percentage of national emissions. Demand reduction for future aviation travel is likely to be necessary in addition to measures to improve efficiency and trading of carbon emissions with other sectors. Demand reduction can be achieved by increasing the costs of aviation, a quota system and/or by restricting the supply, e.g. by restricting airport expansion plans."
Public
We spoke to members of the public at our day of action on 3rd May 2003:
A male resident of Monton, Eccles:
"Just because you don't live near the airport doesn't mean you can't feel empathy for the people who do."
A woman from Ashton-under-Lyne:
"We fly too much - this is an issue for clean air and child health."
Michael Gibson, a local market gardener from Knutsford:
"Huge, low-flying aircraft, often directly overhead for days at a time, seem to be attacking us, on some days one a minute from 6am to 11pm. And there is a large quota of night flights. The noise and other pollution is awful."
A woman who has lived in Flixton, near Urmston for 15 years, and has noticed noise pollution get much worse over the last 6 years:
"It's not handy when I'm trying to put my baby to sleep!"