Airport expansion - background

The UK Government and devolved administrations have all said that ancient woodland should be better protected and action should be taken on climate change. Despite this, the Government produced a White Paper on aviation with proposals that will cause large scale destruction of ancient woods. These include:
  • New runway at Stansted in a decade
  • Not ruling out building a new runway at Gatwick after 2019
  • The White Paper also included plans for Birmingham and Manchester which have since been abandoned. Luton Airport also planned to build a second runway, but have also abandoned those plans.

The Woodland Trust is worried that these proposals could lead to loss of ancient woodland. These woods are home to more threatened species than any other UK habitat. 
 

Petition
Back in December 2003 Peter Ainsworth MP presented our petition against destructive airport expansion to the House of Commons over 2,000 people sign it online and almost 2,000 sign hard copies and send them into us with a total of 4,002 signatories. To view the petition from those who signed it online please click on the picture on the right.