Kramer highlights figures for UK flights

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 26th Mar 2007

Susan Kramer and anti-third Heathrow runway campaigners from Hounslow

Susan Kramer, Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park, has worked out that one flight every 15 minutes is headed out of Heathrow to a UK destination equivalent to 88 a day. She did the sums after getting answers to Parliamentary questions from Aviation Minister Gillian Merron. In contrast more high speed train links would reduce the impact of Heathrow UK flights on local communities.

Susan Kramer said:

"Between 2003 and 2005 the number of flights to UK airports from Heathrow went up from 30,000 to 32,000.

"My calculation of one flight every 15 minutes is based on the 2003 figures, and covers 365 days a year.

"The figures show the need to build on the rail infrastructure to increase the number of high speed trains. Making rail travel more attractive for business an leisure passengers is crucial .

"Otherwise we will be faced with an escalating number of planes headed to places like Manchester, East Midlands, Glasgow and Edinburgh which impact on the quality of life for [local] communities..."