Poll Suggests Two Thirds Want More Airport Capacity

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But few want it at Heathrow

A Mori poll released yesterday shows that only 13% of people in the UK back a third runway at Heathrow.  Most people, 60%, want to see more airport capacity in the country but few of them want it at Heathrow.  A third of people are against any expansion at all.

Of those who favour expansion, 30% want to see a new airport, 24% support Gatwick and 22% Heathrow.  But, when those who oppose all expansion are taken into account, support for a third runway at Heathrow falls to a mere 13%.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, which opposes a third runway, said, “The politicians who back Heathrow expansion are simply out of tune with public opinion. Moreover, this independent poll shows Heathrow-commissioned polls do not tell the full story".

Most people thought that concerns about noise (30%) and the natural environment (39%) were more important than jobs and economic growth (15%) when considering where new runway or a new airport should be built.

Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos MORI, said: “At the moment, the public’s view is dominated by concerns about environmental impact and noise rather than jobs or cost.”

 

July 28, 2015