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Campaigners against expansion of Heathrow are calling for a judicial review of the Airports Commission’s decision to back a third runway at the west London hub.
The Teddington Action Group argues that there was a potential conflict of interest over Commission chairman Sir Howard Davies accepting the chairmanship of Royal Bank of Scotland, banker for companies that own Heathrow and Gatwick, and that the Commission’s May consultation on air quality was “rushed and insufficiently publicised”.
The Airports Commission rejected both assertions in a response from the Treasury Solicitor.
But Teddington Action Group spokesman, Paul McGuinness, said: “We are advised that the Treasury Solicitor’s response, on behalf of the Airports Commission, is inadequate and that we should be able to see this Judicial Review through to a successful conclusion”.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of British Industry warned that the UK could lose up to £31 billion in trade to fast-growing economies by 2030 because of the wait to build a new runway.
The cost relates to the failure to increase flights to Brazil, Russia, India and China, according to the business group, meaning the true impact on trade of delaying the expansion of the UK’s airport capacity could b e far higher.
The CBI said it was crucial for work on a new runway to begin by 2020, the Times reported.
A decision from government on the Airport Commission’s recommendations is due by the end of the year.