On Monday we had a very important vote in Parliament on the
expansion of Heathrow Airport.
I have been a strong supporter of the expansion for a wide
variety of reasons and voted in favour of it.
Firstly, in general terms:
The extension will be good value. It will be delivered at no
cost to taxpayers. The new runway scheme will be privately funded and we will
work with industry to keep airport charges down.
The extension will provide a massive economic boost to the
country, with new international routes, more than 100,000 new jobs, doubled
freight capacity and benefits of up to £74 billion to passengers and the wider
economy.
The extension will have environmental protection built-in.
The expansion will be delivered within existing climate change and air quality
obligations and a new six and a half hour ban on scheduled night flights.
Expanding Heathrow will give guaranteed benefits for the
whole of the UK. We have committed to about 15 per cent of new slots for
domestic routes, new rail links, and new global opportunities for regional
business.
This last bit is particularly important for Cornwall, and
Cornwall Airport Newquay in particular.
Cornwall Airport Newquay continues to be the UK’s fastest
growing regional airport. In Parliament I am co-chair of the All Party
Parliamentary Group for Regional Airports, a group of MPs from all political
parties who work together to promote and highlight regional airports and the
communities they serve. I am always proud to bring up Cornwall Airport
Newquay’s positive success at the meetings of this group.
Heathrow’s expansion makes a potential Newquay-Heathrow
route a real possibility.
In PMQ’s last Wednesday the Prime Minister specifically
mentioned our airport when it came to potential beneficiaries of the Heathrow
expansion.
The announcement last week by the Government that it will
protect routes from Heathrow to regional airports is also a potential
game-changer for or airport, and anther massive potential economic booster for
Mid-Cornwall.
Last week I welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport to
Newquay to continue to press the case for this important route, as well as
provide an update on the A30 link road to St Austell progress, and numerous
other transport infrastructure projects we are working on with Cornwall
Council.
Monday’s vote was a momentous one that has been 50 years in
the making and represents the biggest national transport decision in a
generation. I will continue to do all I can to continue to ensure Cornwall
benefits from Heathrow’s growth now and in the future.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no
appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on
then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk.
Additionally, I hold regular, appointment only,
advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can be found at:
www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
