Business
Chamber welcomes Heathrow expansion plans
14th March 2008
Response to sixth terminal and third runway
Plans to expand capacity at Heathrow Airport, with the development of a third runway and a sixth terminal, were discussed at a recent consultation response meeting.
In order to lobby on behalf of Thames Valley businesses, the Chamber collated the views of the 2,500 businesses that it represents through discussion at the Thames Valley Transport Group, held last month at the Chamber Councils and through the Chamber’s electronic newsletter.
Commenting on the plans, Claire Prosser, policy executive for the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group, said: “We welcome plans for Heathrow airport to be expanded; the operational problems are seriously affecting business, and inhibiting inward investment in the Thames Valley and the UK as a whole“Heathrow is extremely important to the economy of the South East; it is a key factor in businesses’ decision on whether to stay in the Thames Valley and indeed whether to come to the Thames Valley in the first place. If Heathrow airport is not fit for purpose, businesses will invest elsewhere in Europe.
“However we do approach these proposals with caution, as the increased capacity needs to be twinned with significant investment in infrastructure. Currently surface access to Heathrow is inadequate: rail is limited and unreliable and the key M4 motorway link is already overstressed.
“The announcement that Crossrail will serve Heathrow by 2017 is welcomed; however, even with the western terminal proposed at Maidenhead, rather than the logical terminus of Reading, the Thames Valley will have no direct access to Heathrow via Crossrail.
“We do feel, however, that if the government prioritises significant investment in infrastructure, the improved reliability, increased capacity and operational flexibility expansion would deliver are essential if Heathrow is to continue to be a hub for global business and investment. “Heathrow must restore its international competitiveness and cut delays which are a cost to businesses. We acknowledge that Heathrow is the only long-haul (London) airport with inter-connections with short-haul connections. This is not the case for other (UK) airports and it is good when these categories are together. We also acknowledge that this is the most important economic and transport consultation since the construction of the M4.
“We trust that our opinions will be given commensurate weight in the deliberations of those influencing strategy on this matter.”
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