LIB DEMS GRILL MAYOR ON HEATHROW TERMINAL 6 PLANS

1.19.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 22nd Jun 2005

At Mayor's Question Time today Ken Livingstone was pressed by the Liberal Democrats to reveal whether he supported BAA's interim master plan which threatened that up to 700 homes might need to be demolished to make way for 'further facilities' when Heathrow's third runway is constructed.

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats also expressed grave concern that the appointment of former British Airways Chief Executive, Rod Eddington, as the Government's Transport adviser could lead to a conflict of interest after he spearheaded the campaign for the third runway at Heathrow.

London Assembly Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson, Geoff Pope, said:-

"With the publication of the latest report on Heathrow expansion people now know what is at stake in the coming weeks and months. As the aviation industry begins to increase its lobbying for more of the surrounding area to be bulldozed for Terminal 6 and the third runway, local people must gear up for an almighty battle against an influential and affluent business giant.

"The campaign will not be made any easier with Rod Eddington, the former Chairman of British Airways, who led the campaign for a third runway, being at the helm of Government thinking on the future of transport of the UK.

"If Ken Livingstone does oppose expansion of Heathrow and has the sort of influence on central Government that he claims, he must use all of it to persuade Ministers that further expansion of Heathrow is neither an option nor an answer."

ENDS

Notes to editor

The monthly Mayor's Question Time was held at 10am Wednesday 22nd June 2005

The London Assembly Liberal Democrats asked:-

Terminal 6

Question No: 1346 / 2005

Geoff Pope

Do you support BAA's proposal in their draft interim master plan for Heathrow to build 'further facilities' in the form of satellite buildings or a terminal - to support a third runway'?