WEST Midlands MEP Anthea McIntyre is backing moves for a major expansion of Birmingham Airport.
Miss McIntyre, Conservative spokesman on employment in the European Parliament, has joined other politicians and business leaders in signing a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May backing expansion.
And this week she took a delegation from the European Parliament to the airport to hear the growth plans outlined.
She believes increasing traffic at the region’s main airport can be key to boosting jobs and growth.
Signatories are asking the Government to back a competitive network of airports across the country rather than concentrating expansion in the South East.
The letter says: “We urge the Government to consider the impact on all UK airports when making its decision on airport capacity in the South East, ensuring that any such decision allows for a competitive market in which airports can act as drivers for local growth in their regions.
It highlights Birmingham Airport’s role in maximising the benefits of HS2, which will have a station there, stating that: “With HS2’s arrival in ten years, the airport will become the UK’s first high-speed connected airport and its catchment area will be dramatically enlarged into central London, giving it an increasingly national role.”
Miss McIntyre said: “The country desperately needs more air capacity, but there is no reason it must all be concentrated in London or the South East. Much better to spread the load and the benefit, to create hub airports outside London which will maximise the benefit of HS2 and become powerful economic catalysts.
“That will be right for the environment and the economy.”
