Heathrow`s expansion brings disaffection by Romana Schlesingerova

One of the busiest airports in the world will be soon enlarged by a new runway and a sixth terminal under proposal released by the Government. Heathrow, owned by the Spanish Ferrovial Group is the primary hub for British Airways and a major hub for its rivals bmi and Virgin Atlantic. At the same time, the airport can boast with the highest international traffic worldwide. The suggested third runway is now a hot theme for discussion. After the plan had been disclosed, residents and environmentalist expressed their anger. The cost of the airport`s expansion is way too high, they say. It will include the demolition of 700 homes and a destruction of 2,400 yards of land, which would require the abolishment of the entire village. The level of noise in the area is yet 57, considered as "annoyance." This is one of the issues the protesters are also concerned about. "The economic costs of climate change will dwarf any profits business might make from a third runway. Global warming is the greatest threat we face and requires a response that radically changes the way we think about airports." said John Sauven, Greenpeace executive director. The pro-expansion group Future Heathrow, thinks, the construction of new runway is necessary for maintaining the airport`s position as an European leader. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said the redevelopment can be done without increasing the level of noise. Her opponents doubted it with another wave of protests and their own studies and research. Heathrow now serves 45 million passengers a year. With the new proposed terminal and the third runway, the increase is estimated for over a 30 million more travelers in the same period.

by Romana Schlesingerova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.