UK govt. under pressure over Heathrow
British businesses have exerted further pressure on the government for further delaying a decision on where to build a much-needed new runway for London.
The government said earlier that it would postpone the decision until at least mid-2016 to assess the environmental impact of possible expansion at London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport.
Businesses have been lobbying for a third runway at Heathrow, a move fiercely opposed by environmental groups and lawmakers in residential west London.
Prime Minister David Cameron had promised a decision before the New Year.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin refused to rule out yet more delay on choosing between a third runway at Heathrow, extending one of the current runways or building a second one at the secondary London Gatwick Airport.
"We accept that additional airport capacity is needed and we will make a decision on that hopefully in the summer of next year which would still allow us to get the extra capacity we need by 2030," McLoughlin insisted that all options were "still on the table."
A commission had recommended earlier expanding Heathrow, but hundreds of homes would have to be demolished and the extra traffic could mean Britain fails to meet emissions targets.
Heathrow handled some 73.4 million passengers in 2014 and connects to 185 destinations in 84 countries.
China halts liquefied natural gas imports from US amid tariff war
Negative impact of Trump tariffs on UK economy
BP to be sued in Britain for supplying oil to Israel
Israeli forces kill four Palestinians in West Bank raid
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran will never bow to threats, pressure, Pezeshkian tells Trump
VIDEO | From ashes of al-Mansi: Echoes of displacement
Iran urges immediate end to deadly violence in Libyan capital
Netanyahu hits back at Macron for criticizing starvation policy in Gaza
Palestinian journalist, his entire family, killed in Israeli bombing of Khan Yunis
Qalibaf: Iran, Algeria need to work to help aid deliveries to Gaza
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
