Tories warn companies involved in Heathrow runway: 'we will stop a third runway going ahead' » Communities » 24dash.com

The Conservatives today warned companies not to get involved in any plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport as the Tories were "absolutely determined" to stop the project going ahead.

Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "We will not consider ourselves bound by any decision taken by this Government (on Heathrow). People involved with contracts should be warned - we will stop a third runway going ahead.

"Anyone getting involved in any contract for a third runway should be very, very careful."

In a briefing to transport correspondents, Ms Villiers also said the Tories were opposed to a second runway at Stansted airport.

She also said a future Tory Government would ensure speed cameras were "about saving lives rather than raising revenue" and that there should be more confiscations of vehicles and higher fines for those who drive without insurance.

Ms Villiers first stated her party's opposition to a third runway at Heathrow at the Conservatives' annual conference last month.

Today she and her shadow transport team stressed that the £15.7 billion high speed rail plan which the party has opted for instead of Heathrow expansion was affordable and would make Heathrow "much better."

Ms Villiers also said that a possible levy on Heathrow passengers to pay for a spur line to Heathrow was one of the proposals the Conservatives were considering.

On speed cameras, Ms Villiers said that they helped improve road safety and she also thought that cameras that judged average speeds had a role to play. But she added the cameras needed to "save lives rather than just soaking the motorists for more cash."

The Conservatives said that the average fine paid for driving without insurance in 2006 was £185. They said this should be higher with Ms Villiers saying that the problem of these rogue drivers was increasing.

She added: "It should be much more routine for police and courts to confiscate cars. It's a power they have, but they are misusing it."

The shadow transport team admitted that given the current economic climate, money would be tight in the coming years but they said they were committed to the £16 billion cross-London Crossrail scheme and that their own high speed rail plans were "feasible and affordable."

Ms Villiers said: "Grave as the current situation is, it would be unwise to put off major projects."

The issue of Heathrow and Stansted was one of 12 questions the Conservatives want Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to answer.

Later, Mr Hoon said: "British business will be concerned about what we've heard from Theresa Villiers today. The Tories are on the wrong side of the argument with business and with the travelling public.

"Heathrow supports 100,000 jobs directly and many more indirectly, billions of pounds of British exports and is our main gateway to the global economy. Naturally, many businesses will also see opportunities for themselves directly in the development of Heathrow."

Mr Hoon went on: "Labour is the only party which has consistently shown leadership in recognising that the expansion of Heathrow - subject to meeting strict local environmental conditions on noise, air quality and surface access - is important for British business and jobs.

"The Tories' blanket opposition to a third runway at Heathrow, as well as expansion of Stansted and Gatwick, shows that they cannot be trusted by business or those many thousands of individuals whose jobs depend on Heathrow's status as an international hub airport."