Bigger Heathrow will not breach pollution limits, says airport's sustainability chief

 
Airport 'can expand': Passengers at Heathrow (File image)

Heathrow's air quality chief today hit back at claims by Boris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith that a third runway could breach air pollution limits for London.

Matt Gorman, the airport’s sustainability director, said the Davies Commission into air capacity had been “very clear” that Heathrow could expand and stay within its limits.

He turned the focus back to the Mayor by saying it was up to City Hall, along with the Government, to do more to combat vehicle emissions on approach roads instead.

It comes after Mr Johnson warned there may have to be a congestion charge zone around Heathrow to help tackle air pollution.

Mr Goldsmith said just one extra runway would lead to 25 million extra road journeys a year and that London would struggle to stay within its air quality targets even without a third runway.

But Mr Gorman told the Standard: “Heathrow is far from the biggest contributor to air quality locally. The biggest issue in the area around the airport is the M4 and it’s vehicle pollution along there which is the main contributor, the majority of which is not related to Heathrow.

“It’s clear that we have a role to play but we need action from City Hall, and Government as well, to get cleaner vehicles on the motorway.”

Asked whether the west London Tory MPs were wrong, he said: “The Airports Commission has been really clear on this, we can add a third runway at Heathrow and meet air quality objectives.”

The airport says that cleaner, quieter aircraft, greener airside vehicles and better public transport have helped bring about a 16 per cent fall in emissions over the last five years.

Mr Gorman admitted the airport may need to look at a local congestion charging zone in future, but would work on improving public transport in the first instance.

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