Finally-- Heathrow runway approval-Objectors take the high ground!

Finally the UK government has ''approved '' the proposal for a third runway for London Heathrow.

BUT opposition groups to the scheme once again have occupied the high ground - The government has failed to get its act together and is forced to play a defensive bat in supporting the approval. This , rather than understanding the concerns voiced by opposing parties and pro actively delivering a campaign answering those questions regarding climate change and local noise increase impact before they even get aired in what inevitably would be a negative way.

Its not as if the opposers' position has been a well guarded secret - campaigns have clearly identified the rationale behind opposing this planned expansion .

As indicated in a previous blog, the government and aviation just cannot seem to provide a positive collective voice on the subject of air transport and climate impact and while this remains it will leave itself open to repetitive whippings from any and all anti-aviation lobbies. With this being just one of several major UK aviation related projects, surely there is enough sense within the industry to pre-plan and answer these environmental issues before the questions are raised . Is it that we are now all too cynical to believe that anything government says has any element of truth in it . Or maybe we are being overly generous regarding their collective intelligence and ability to put together a convincing and constructive argument on the subject

The opposition to the plan by London's Mayor must be causing some bemusement. His concept of a Thames estuary site for a new airport rather than Heathrow development has an element of deja vu , the concept having been proposed and firmly rejected some 25 years ago during a project to identify and secure air transport infrastructure for UK south east. Why did no one tell him ??

Any government walks a narrow line between the positions of supporting improved economic prosperity for its country and the balance of the important issue of climate protection. Climate deterioration however does not recognise territorial boundaries and one country's stand will have negligible impact if the remaining polluters carry on polluting! The government has to protect the economic position of the country here whilst seeking a global approval for emission reduction. At least the UK government is amongst the few already willing to incorporate aviation emissions within the concept of overall emission reductions.

Years of discussion already on the subject and still 10 years before this runway will be available for commercial use .

I would suggest that its not too difficult for aviation and government to find a team knowledgeable enough to drive this pro actively now and re establish the high ground - not just for Heathrow but for the many other projects that continue to receive negative attention.