Liberal Democrats Vote Against Stansted and Heathrow Expansion

South West Herts Liberal Democrats have welcomed the vote at the national party conference against more runways at Stansted Airport. Taking place in Brighton, party delegates from across the UK backed a motion proposed by Julian Huppert MP opposing new runways at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. The motion calling for better use of existing capacity has now become a part of Lib Dem party policy.

Speaking from the conference in Brighton, Uttlesford Lib Dem Environment spokesperson Councillor Elizabeth Parr commented by saying that, "at a time when senior figures in the Conservative Party are calling for Stansted expansion, this reaffirmation of the Liberal Democrats' opposition to more runways is good news for local residents. Heathrow handled a big increase in passenger numbers during the Olympics, which shows there is no need for any more runways".

Hertfordshire County Councillor Nick Hollinghurst added, "Here in South West Herts we are already overflown by planes from Luton and Stansted and by the Bovingdon stack which planes use as a merry-go-round while waiting for a landing slot at Heathrow. We particularly welcome the conference decision to re-affirm the Party's opposition to the third runway at Heathrow and the call for the developmentof capacity in the Midlands, Scotland and the North instead."