But it must be 'built within strict environmental standards'
In a statement made today, 15th September, 100 companies and organisations have given their backing for a third runway to be built at Heathrow Airport, within strict environmental standards.
Of the 100 organisations involved, the public companies alone have a combined market capitalisation of more than half a trillion pounds. The total revenue of the public and private companies amounts to more than £480 billion per annum. Together, the organisations directly employ over 825,000 people in the United Kingdom.
In the statement, they say, "Heathrow Airport is vital for business. It offers the direct connections which make our companies globally successful, and which will be all the more important as India and China grow. That’s been recognised by our European competitors – Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt airports will each have at least four runways by 2012. And that's why Heathrow needs a third runway built within strict environmental standards. Britain is at the heart of the global economy. Let's make the right decisions to keep us successful."
Richard Lambert, Director-General of the CBI said, “This statement from a wide cross-section of British business demonstrates just how important good international transport links are to the long-term competitiveness of the UK. Businesses today operate in an increasingly global environment and if the UK is to remain an attractive place for them to locate, we need good, direct access to the global economic powerhouses such as China and India.
“Today, Heathrow provides direct flights to a wide variety of destinations including Amritsar, Calcutta, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Beijing, Delhi and Shanghai. But the airport is full. And routes such as these are vulnerable if Heathrow cannot maintain its hub status. A third runway, built and operated within the strict environmental limits set by Government, will ensure that Heathrow is able to provide the quality services that business and other travellers need."
Supporting quotes from signatories:
Paul Walsh, CEO, Diageo plc, said: "A third runway at Heathrow is essential for UK competitiveness, particularly as we strive to meet the challenge and opportunity of the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and Latin America."
Chris Gibson-Smith, Chairman, London Stock Exchange, said: “The success of the City of London depends on its infrastructure. A bigger and better Heathrow is an absolute priority if we are to sustain London’s competitiveness.”
Sir Gulam Noon MBE, Chairman, Noon Products, said: “As a successful British business, good transport links that are fit for purpose are vital to our continued growth. Heathrow is vital if our business is to expand and grow overseas. That is why Noon Foods supports a third runway. We are sensitive to local residents concerns of course. But on balance we believe that the benefits for the nation as a whole, and business in particular, outweigh these concerns.”
Mervyn Davies, Chairman, Standard Chartered, said: "Standard Chartered is headquartered in London but derives over 90 per cent of its profits from the emerging trade corridors of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. A third runway at Heathrow is a prerequisite if the UK is to continue to benefit from the emergence of the new economies."
Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, said: “This is a crucial infrastructure project that will help safeguard employment and create quality new jobs, not just at Heathrow but in the wider economy in which it is such a vital link.. As long as it can be built in a sensitive manner, and meet the EU’s emission and air quality targets, the third runway at Heathrow, along with Crossrail, will keep Britain connected to the rest of the world.”
Shaun Whittaker, CEO, Thames Valley Economic Partnership, said: "Many businesses in the Thames Valley depend on Heathrow. The airport provides vital direct links to overseas markets and employs thousands of local people. A third runway will bring a boost to the local economy and will also ease congestion considerably, so we welcome it. However the road and rail links to Heathrow from the Thames Valley and the West are inadequate. The rail links that now exist between Heathrow and London have greatly improved access from the east - there now need to be similar links from the West."
Steve Turner and Brian Boyd, Unite the Union, said: “The construction of a third runway at Heathrow as part of the Government’s Airport Expansion proposals, is crucial for continued job security and new employment within not just the local community, but the broader associated industries where links to aviation is essential.
September 15, 2008