ICE cautiously welcomes Stansted Airport expansion

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has today (Wednesday) cautiously welcomed transport secretary Alistair Darling's decision to build a new runway at Stansted Airport.

Huw Edwards chairman of ICE's Transport Board said: "We strongly feel that at Stansted better use of existing capacity should be considered before a new runway is built. Further development of runways and airport infrastructure should be looked at as part of a wider transport strategy based on demand."

ICE will continue to lobby government on the issue that airports cannot work in isolation from the rest of the transport system. ICE has advocated this approach for the last 20 years.

"Failure by government to adopt a joined-up approach in relation to transportation at Stansted will result in a substantial increase in the demand for future surface links.

The presumption should be against the private car and in favour of public transport," said Edwards.

"Finally, we were disappointed that consultation on airport expansion was solely carried out on a regional, rather than national basis."