Airport Plans "Madness"

The Green Party Councillor, Mark Hood, has attacked what he called Labour's "bonfire of regulations" after news of plans for a new Heathrow runway.

Mark Hood was speaking to West Kent Radio in a live interview on the Friday drivetime programme with Martin Webber.

Mark Hood, who is a Borough and County Councillor, said "it is madness to be going down this route".

The Labour government has said it believes big infrastructure investments will boost economic growth and tax revenue and therefore enable more spending on public services.

Labour expects to push through planning approval for a third runway at Heathrow in this parliament and is expected to allow Gatwick to increase flights by 60% by allowing it to upgrade a stand-by runway.

The government has also this week signalled its approval for a £10 billion road crossing of the Thames, called the Lower Thames Crossing.

Mark Hood said the government should be taxing frequent flyers more to curb air travel demand, while the new Thames crossing would only relieve congestion for a few years before roads were again filled to capacity. 

Mark Hood also rejected Labour's suggestions that aviation's damage to the climate can be offset by using more "sustainable aviation fuels" derived from crops.  He said we had insufficient food security to use crops for aviation fuel.

Mark Hood began the West Kent Radio interview by giving his thoughts on the past week's failure by South East Water to supply fresh water in parts of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Bidborough.

He said South East Water should have alerted people sooner, so an effort could have been made to eek out supplies to stop the system draining down and creating air locks.

He also said the supply of bottled water should have been managed better.

You can listen to his interview here:

More from WEST KENT NEWS

  • Sevenoaks Primary School Shut by Vandals

    Hundreds of primary school children in Sevenoaks have been told they cannot return to classes after the summer holidays end on 2nd September.

  • 100 Homes for Hadlow

    More green fields are to be replaced by housing under a plan for the north west of Hadlow.

  • 500th Park Run in Dunorlan

    The Tunbridge Wells Park Run is marking a major milestone on Saturday 30th August.

  • Resisting Asylum Hotels

    Audio

    The leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has said he will "fight very hard" any attempt by the government to house asylum seekers in local hotels.

  • Oast House Restoration

    A disused historic building in Sevenoaks is to be restored and made the centrepiece of a new housing estate.

  • Paddock Wood Building Boom

    Plans have been unveiled for 500 more homes on farmland to the west of Paddock Wood.

  • River Pollution Kills Insects

    There are virtually no rivers left in Kent with a good rating for their water quality, according to the latest Environment Agency report.

  • Battle for Kent Territory Intensifies

    The Conservative leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough has accused Labour-run Medway Council of being "disrespectful" for its ideas on carving up Kent's existing councils.

On Air Now Brian Johnson 7:00am - 10:00am
Now Playing
Travel Update West Kent Radio
Recently Played
  • Who Knows Where The Time Goes Fairport Convention 9:16
  • You're Beautiful James Blunt 9:12
  • Events Guide West Kent Radio 9:10

COMING UP

  • Chris Manser

    10:00am - Noon

    Mid Mornings

  • Lunch Break

    Noon - 2:00pm

    Music, News & Features sponsored by The Arty Farty Retreat