Reading Liberal Democrats

The Reading Chronicle article [MP: we must be asked about Heathrow, 29 November] shows Reading’s current MPs doing a passable impression of Tweedledee and Tweedledum, while ignoring the fundamental issue at stake.

Gareth Epps Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Reading East has written to the Chronicle saying – “There is no justification for a third runway at Heathrow and the destruction it will cause, not only to the communities it will obliterate but to the impact on Reading of vastly more flights. Given the impact of climate change, and with air travel the fastest growing source of carbon emissions, doubling the capacity of Heathrow is the last thing we want or need.

Worse, Rob Wilson as quoted seems to misunderstand the concept of consultation. The word means asking the public for their view, as opposed to the Labour Government’s proposal to inform the public about a decision they have already taken. So calling for the ‘roadshow’ to be brought to Reading is meaningless.

For far too long Labour and Tory politicians have ignored the environment and allowed the expansion of air travel while failing to promote solutions such as high speed rail. Liberal Democrats would not expand Heathrow, and all the posturing in the world about consultation can take nothing away from that.