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Expanding Birmingham airport is vital for both jobs and carbon reduction, says Lib Dem MEP
March 31, 2012 12:32 PM
Originally published by Phil Bennion
Originally published by Phil Bennion
Lib Dem Euro MP Phillip Bennion has voiced his strong support for plans to lengthen the runway at Birmingham airport as a huge boost to jobs in the region, as well as important for cutting carbon emissions.
The new MEP for the West Midlands region visited the airport with Deputy PM Nick Clegg, Birmingham deputy leader Cllr Paul Tilsley and Solihull MP Lorely Burt last week to discuss progress on the airport's plans to extend their runway by 405 metres to allow many more long-haul flights.
Phillip Bennion MEP said: "After talking through the plans in detail with CEO Paul Kehoe, it is even clearer to me that we need to back this expansion because of the huge boost it will give the economy in Birmingham, Solihull and everywhere within 30 miles.
Phil Bennion MEP (left) touring Birmingham Airport with Nick Clegg, airport CEO Paul Kehoe and Birmingham Council's Lib Dem deputy leader Paul Tilsley. Pic courtesy Birmingham Airport.
"There are also very sound green reasons for supporting this plan instead of expanding Heathrow yet again or the so-called Boris Island for the Thames.
"More travel options from Birmingham, linked eventually by HS2, will make our region much more attractive for business to locate and invest in and improve access for existing employers to their export markets. That means many more jobs.
"But I also believe the green case for a longer runway at Birmingham must be made. Unless you oppose aircraft travel full stop, the environmental arguments for using regional airports especially Birmingham properly are overwhelming.
"At present, literally millions of long haul passengers make unnecessary connecting journeys every year to Heathrow, Gatwick or even by plane to Paris, Frankfurt or Schipol, with a massive extra carbon footprint."
Before becoming an MEP, Phil Bennion was a key member of the Lib Dems' Federal Policy Committee, where he made sure that the Lib Dem manifesto did not undermine Birmingham airport's plans.
He added: "I opposed the proposal some years ago for a second short runway, as there was clearly spare capacity on the existing rather short runway.
"But I supported a longer runway which the airport believe could handle up to 36 million passengers a year, with a proper high speed rail link.
"Short haul traffic should be diverted to fast surface rail links wherever practical and long haul flights distributed sensibly to minimise energy consumption to existing airports with good transport links.
"Expanding Heathrow yet again will just make travel even more difficult, as well as requiring vast demolitions. Boris Johnson's proposed airport in the Thames estuary would be hugely expensive, has serious bird strike safety issues and ignores the potential that we now have. London's new airport should be Birmingham.
"I know Nick Clegg was very impressed by what he saw and heard and I am confident that the message is getting through to the coalition government. As MEP these proposals have my full support."
ENDS
Caption: Phil Bennion MEP (left) touring Birmingham Airport with Nick Clegg, airport CEO Paul Kehoe and Birmingham Council's Lib Dem deputy leader Paul Tilsley. Pic courtesy Birmingham Airport.