MP attacks runway plans

Oct 13 2005 By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail

SOLIHULL MP Lorely Burt has blasted the Government for claiming a second runway was needed at Birmingham International Airport by 2016.

The politician slammed the Government for putting the date on plans claiming they were merely "pie in the sky".

The Liberal Democrat made the claims at a meeting of Friends of the Earth, ahead of the airport's publication of its master plan in several weeks time.

The 2016 date was originally given by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, but the airport is also now saying that the runway will not be needed until at least 2020.

Lorely said: "After 9/11 and given the increase in oil prices, the Government's calculation that the second runway will be needed by 2016 is pie in the sky.

"The days of predict and provide are over for two reasons. The Government simply cannot make an accurate assessment of future air travel needs with any certainty."

John Morris, head of corporate and community affairs at the airport, said: "We are very realistic about what we are doing. We believe the second runway will be needed, but we now think it will be closer to 2020 than 2016.

"This means we are not going down the predict and provide route that we are often accused of, but it does represent the demand in a couple of decades' time. The master plan will be published shortly and will give people more detail about our plans."

The airport is also holding a series of open days to give residents a chance to have a look at the new master plan.

Meetings will take place at 7pm on Friday, November 18, at Solihull National Motorcycle Museum and on Monday, November 21, at Sheldon Heath School and Community Centre.