Tory-Lib Dem coalition criticised over Heathrow runway decision

14 May 2010

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has criticised the Tory and Liberal Democrat coalition after the parties announced under the terms of their agreement to cancel the proposed third Heathrow runway.

Mr Stewart is angry that the plug has been pulled on the project as he believes it would have led to the restoration of a much needed air link between Inverness and the UK’s largest airport.

Mr Stewart said: "I was given a guarantee by British Airways Chief Willie Walsh at the BAA/BA Scotland dinner in Edinburgh in October 2008 that a service to Inverness from Heathrow would be re-instated if a third runway was built.

"I’m extremely disappointed that the Tories and the Lib Dems have strangled this project at birth."

British Airways scrapped flights from Heathrow to the Highland Capital in 1997.

Mr Stewart, who was part of the campaign to save the previous Heathrow service, commented: "Mr Walsh’s view was that the third runway would provide extra capacity for regional services and I was delighted that he gave a very clear commitment to the Inverness route.

"Re-instating the service would be good news for commuters, for employers, for inward investment and for tourism and would offer great interlinking opportunities for the Highlands to get to destinations across the world. Sadly the prospects of that happening have been dashed by the new coalition partners."

He added: "It is disappointing that the newly elected Lib Dem MP for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey and new Secretary of State for Scotland Danny Alexander has not put up a fight on behalf of his constituents on such a vital local issue."