Chris Grayling will ask MPs to back a £15bn airport expansion in ‘Heathrow or bust’ warning
There is no credible alternative to a Heathrow third runway and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will throw his weight behind the controversial expansion project
TRANSPORT Secretary Chris Grayling will ask MPs to back a £15billion airport expansion this week and warn: “It’s Heathrow or bust.”
He will unveil his plans after 11 years of dithering by successive governments.
But he will tell the Commons there is no Plan B if they block the building of a third runway at London’s busiest airport.
Expanding it will bring benefits of up to £74billion to passengers and the wider economy, according to official estimates.
Mr Grayling’s plan includes built-in extra domestic flights so that the gains are spread to Scotland, Northern Ireland and the regions.
Some MPs are threatening to object to the expansion over noise, air quality and climate change issues in a Commons vote, which is expected before the end of the month.
But they will be warned there is no alternative as a plan for Gatwick or an airport in the Thames Estuary do not exist.
A source said: “If this fails, it will take years and years before we get anywhere near this point again.
The choice this month is simple — it’s Heathrow or nothing.” Mr Grayling has updated the Government’s plans in a bid to re-assure objectors.
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Late changes demanded by the transport committee include a ban on night flights for a minimum seven hours.
Labour is deeply split on the runway. About a dozen Tory MPs, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, oppose the plans.
But the DUP and Scottish Nationalists are in favour.
Rail summit fury
CHRIS Grayling faces furious MPs tomorrow over the bungled new train timetables.
He and Rail Minister Jo Johnson will hold talks after thousands of commuters suffered two weeks of travel chaos on Northern and Govia Thameslink services.
Tory William Wragg said: “Heads need banging together to sort this mess out now.