UK Government formally cancels plans for third runway at Heathrow

UK Minister of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, formally cancelled plans to construct a third runway at London Heathrow Airport (Guardian, 07-Sep-2010). Mr Villiers also announced the UK Government would not approve plans for the airport to operate in mixed mode, in which aircraft would be able to land and take-off all day. However, the government has decided to cancel the Cranford agreement, which bars aircraft from taking off from the airport's northern runway when wind is blowing from the east. Hacan, an anti-Heathrow expansion group, welcomed the decisions.

UK Government: "I have made it absolutely clear today that the Government is firmly committed to retaining runway alternation at Heathrow and will not approve the introduction of mixed mode. Mixed mode would have seen Heathrow's runways used much more intensively, but we recognise the value that those who live close to the airport place on runway alternation," Theresa Villiers, Aviation Minister. Source: Guardian, 07-Sep-2010.