Advertisement

  1. National

PM branded 'gutless' after delaying Heathrow decision

David Cameron has been accused of being "gutless" after a final decision on a third runway at Heathrow was delayed until at least next summer.

The government said yesterday that it had postponed the decision until a more detailed analysis on the environmental impact of expansion could take place.

While environmental groups and local campaigners welcomed the announcement, business leaders reacted with fury.

ITV News Business Editor Joel Hills said Gatwick - which has "less of a pollution problem and fewer local residents to upset" - "is back in the race".

View all 10 updates ›

Pro-airport expansion campaigners voice anger at delay

Pro-airport expansion campaign group Let Britain Fly has criticised the government for delaying a decision over where to build a new runway.

A plane takes off from Heathrow Credit: Reuters

Ministers met to discuss the Airports Commission's recommendation that a third runway be built at Heathrow - but they said further environmental assessments were needed before final approval could be given.

Let Britain Fly director Gavin Hayes said the business community would be "rightly angered" by the delay.

Having already spent three years and millions of pounds of taxpayer money looking at the issue in a Commission, including extensive analysis on the economic and environmental impact, this further delay is unacceptable.

Such indecision risks undermining our economic competitiveness and our global competitors will be rubbing their hands in glee. And the message this sends out to investors is quite frankly a disaster.

The government claim they have a ‘long-term economic plan’ but seem incapable of making the big strategic decisions that will deliver future jobs and growth.

– Gavin Hayes, Let Britain Fly

Read: Heathrow third runway decision delayed until at least summer

  1. Read more
  2. 10 updates
PM branded 'gutless' after delaying Heathrow decision

More on this story