Should a new runway be built at Leeds-Bradford?

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James Black

Should a new runway be built at Leeds-Bradford?

Background

In July 2002, the Government began a UK-wide public consultation on ‘The Future Development of Air Transport in the UK.’ This outlined the government’s policies on meeting expected air transport needs for the next 30 years. It was decided that a new runway would be required in the Midlands within thirty years and plans were also made to locate a second runway at Birmingham or East Midlands. It was even proposed that a new airport could be built at Warwickshire. It is highly possible that soon Leeds-Bradford will become congested and in need for expansion as are these other districts mentioned above. Whether or not is it feasible to build a new runway at Leeds – Bradford airport depends on the negative and positive externalities that will occur as a result. An externality is a consequence that occurs when a business decision is made; it can be either good or bad. Numerous arguments say that it is an advantageous move that will benefit mostly everyone either directly or indirectly; however others believe the environmental implications of the new runway will outweigh the useful outcomes that its construction will create. By utilizing cost/benefit analysis it is easier to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of the above business venture more effectively.

Problems

Firstly I will describe and explain the problems (negative externalities) that the building of a new runway will bring and show how they will have an impact on the public and the surroundings.

When a new runway was proposed for location at Stansted Airport, discussions ensued between the government and airport officials. Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP stressed that ‘airport capacity expansion had to strike a balance between economic benefits and environmental considerations’ if the new runway was to be built. If in the future Leeds – Bradford Airport entered the same situation I am sure the same would apply. The construction of a new runway in Leeds would denote a loss of many hectares of agricultural land. The areas around Stansted Airport in which the new runway was to be built were estimated to lose around 700 hectares of agricultural land; it is possible that the same may apply for Leeds – Bradford. If built, the new runway would have to be situated on areas of green belt land that is not only detrimental to the landscape but also disturbs local wildlife and plant horticulture.

In addition to this the number of people affected by noise pollution above a certain level could increase consequently the public would be affected adversely.

An increased number of planes being used as a result of a new runway could bring about a rise in air pollution levels, affecting local residents health unfavourably as well as adding to greenhouse gases which are already in abundance, (although this is unavoidable and often obligatory in any expansion schemes.) The rise in air pollution could even expose some people near or working in the airport to pollution levels above EU limits which would be both illegal and unethical.

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Costs for travelling by plane could also increase, but for the passenger, as a new runway would cost the airport large sums of money and these costs may be passed on to the consumer probably in the form of ticket prices although in all probability these increases would occur slowly over a long period of time.

Homes may also be lost as room would need to be created to make space for a new runway as well as any graded or listed buildings and/or any heritage sites. This would be a deficit for not only the local community but ...

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