Noise pollution from a second Birmingham runway will affect almost 70,000 people despite a series of measures to prevent it, the Government's White Paper reveals. The statistic is hidden away in the back of the document, which explains why Birmingham International Airport is to expand, and the prospect of a brand new facility near Rugby was rejected. The proposed new runway could mean that within three decades, 103,000 people are affected by noise, compared with the 34,000 already affected by the airport's single runway. But it is needed - partly to prevent us travelling to London in our cars. The White Paper says less than half of air passengers in the Midlands use the region's airports. The rest head to southern airports such as Heathrow, and some use Manchester Airport. So Birmingham's proposal for a short runway gets the green light, on the grounds that it would destroy less green belt land then a full-length option. There are certain restrictions, however. The White Paper says: "It will need to be accompanied by a range of stringent measures to ensure that the limit of people exposed to noise from the airport is kept within acceptable limits, that all local air quality standards are met, and by improvements to road and rail links that provide access to the airport." This means strict noise limits on the aircraft used, "as an incentive to airlines to introduce the quietest suitable aircraft as quickly as is reasonably possible." However the runway will still be used by large planes such as Boeing 737 - as long as they are the most modern versions. It will not be used at night. Birmingham International Airport will also be expected to work closely with the Strategic Rail Authority, Highways Agency and councils to improve public transport, to prevent airport expansion causing major road congestion. The M42 will be widened between junctions 3 and 7, near the airport. It could all have been different if proposals for a new airport near Rugby had been accepted instead. But the Government's decision to back two new runways in the South-east killed this option off. It states that Ministers "have also taken account of the almost uniform opposition to this proposal in the region". East Midlands Airport wanted a second runway, to help it cope with increased freight traffic. The White Paper states that the Government is not convinced. However, the expansion of passenger and freight operation at East Midlands Airport is supported. Major expansion at Coventry Airport is ruled out. Proposals to expand RAF Cosford near Wolverhampton are mentioned briefly, but the White Paper says it would first be up to the RAF to approach local planning bodies. | 
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