The North East Green Party have condemned plans to extend Newcastle Airport’s runway. The detailed masterplan, released yesterday, predicts almost twice as many passengers using Newcastle International Airport by 2035.
The Green Party say these plans are incompatible with the declaration of a climate emergency by the government and several local councils, including Newcastle and Northumberland. They will also be a test of the commitment of the new North of Tyne Mayor, Jamie Driscoll, to his often stated vision of a sustainable north east.
Newcastle Green Party member and climate change researcher, Alistair Ford, said, “The North East should not be expanding airport capacity when action to reduce air pollution and cut greenhouse gas emissions is becoming increasingly urgent. More flights at Newcastle Airport would take us in the opposite direction to our national and international legal obligations. The resulting increase in road traffic would worsen already-illegal levels of air pollution. The impacts of climate change and costs to our NHS must be prioritised. The Masterplan sets out a vision for growth that is grossly incompatible even with current government policy.”
The UK signed up to the UN’s Paris Agreement in 2015, with strict targets to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Aircraft produce more than 20% of UK transport emissions and this proportion is increasing. The North East Greens say that the expansion of the airport will not only impact on the likelihood of the UK meeting their Paris Agreement targets, it will also directly endanger the health of local residents through worsening air and noise pollution.
Air pollution has been linked with up to 40,000 deaths in the UK each year and costs the British economy over £20 billion per annum. A report by The British Medical Journal found that high levels of aircraft noise was associated with increased risks of hospital admission and death for stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease in areas adjacent to airports.
Newcastle Green Party member, Dr Clare Andrews, said ‘The public health impact and resulting costs to the NHS of additional air pollution generated by the expansion of Newcastle Airport would offset any regional economic benefits, which themselves are questionable.’
The Greens argue that the economic benefits of the Masterplan are doubtful. It anticipates an increase in air cargo but the increase in air traffic will eat into the UK’s carbon budget, with more CO2 emitted from air travel meaning lower allowances for North East industry and businesses. Any increased regional tourism must be traded-off against losses from outgoing tourists. Currently such tourism deficit stands at £1.33 lost by outgoing tourists for every £1 brought in by tourists to the UK.
The Green Party has opposed expansion of Heathrow Airport, and supports instead further development of international ferry and rail links. The North East Green Party advocate investment in the Netherlands ferry link to mainland Europe (Amsterdam is currently the third busiest route from Newcastle Airport) as well as the reinstatement of ferries to Scandinavia, rather than continued expansion of air travel from what is already the North of England’s second largest airport.
Shirley Ford, coordinator of the North East Green Party said, ‘These plans will provoke fierce opposition. We will fight for a survivable habitat for future generations.’
Rachel Featherstone
North East Green Party