Claims of Airport Expansion being good don't stand up to scrutiny

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 5th Aug 2005

Commenting on a report by Friends of the Earth, which suggests that UK airport expansion is damaging the UK economy (because UK air travellers are spending £15bn more abroad per year than visitors arriving in the UK spend here) Councillor Gordon Seekings said "The report makes it clear that many claims about the economic benefits of airports are misplaced."

Gordon went on to say, "In Crawley the cost/benefit equation is even more marked. Benefits to Crawley do include jobs but we have to put up with increased pollution.

"It's a fact that most of the jobs that are created at the airport are low skill jobs which have long term consequences for Crawley's economy. With aviation also now the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector, the environmental impact of airport expansion must weigh very heavily against any economic benefit."