It will come to be seen as one of the most important decisions made on behalf of the West Midlands economy, but a second runway at Birmingham International Airport has as many foes as it has friends. On the one hand, the West Midlands business sector and most local authorities welcomed the plan as simply essential for future prosperity. On the other, residents living around the airport campaigned hard to preserve their quality of live against the loss of land and noise and air pollution. The Government decision to favour a "third way" compromise between the proposals in the consultation paper has added grist - and not a little bile - to the campaigners' mill. THE AIRPORT In its response to the Govern-ment's proposals for a narrow-spaced or wide-spaced second runway at Birmingham, BIA put forward its own plan for a short wide-space runway which would not need to be operated at night and would require 50 per cent less land. Brian Summers, the former managing director of BIA responsible for the Birmingham Alternative runway proposal, said: "The news is excellent, this is exactly what the region was looking for." The current West Midlands Regional Assembly member said he felt that the Govern-ment's timescale of the runway being ready by 2016 might need to be shortened. "I would have thought it might be needed earlier than that," he said. "Not much earlier, but certainly within ten years. "This is a competitive business and the region has to be ready to meet demand. What this means is the region now has the capacity it needs to continue to grow successfully. It really is as important as that." Mr Summers also rejected any potential legal challenge to be launched by campaigners against the new runway. "That specific option was not consulted on but in reality, the plans were covered in their entirety during the extensive consultation." THE OPPOSITION Maggie Throup, who has led a campaign of BIA's neighbours in Catherine-de-Barnes against a second runway, said protesters would now try to mount a legal challenge against the Govern-ment's plans. "I think this is a dismal day for the whole of Solihull," Mrs Throup said. "This is going to be a nightmare for us to live with. "There is definitely a case for a legal challenge because we have not been consulted about this at all." James Botham, of Birmingham Anti-Noise Group (BANG) said he was relieved that plans for a new airport between Coventry and Rugby had been scrapped. But a second runway for Birmingham would bring misery for residents living in its flight path, he said. Mr Botham added: "Birming-ham people have been forgotten and the impact that this runway will have on them will just be swept under the carpet. "But the Government appears to have treated the residents of When the Government announced its aviation consultation, the potential for a second runway at Birmingham International Airport began a debate that has divided the region. As Transport Reporter Campbell Docherty found out, yesterday's Government White Paper has only intensified the division with the added threat of legal action to come. this city as an acceptable loss." Mr Botham also appealed to the relieved residents of Warwickshire, who fought against the Rugby airport proposal, to back their fight. Chris Crean, of West Midlands Friends of the Earth, said: "The Aviation White Paper is worse than we feared. "The Government has sacrificed its environmental responsibilities to satisfy the demands of the aviation industry. "Alistair Darling's decision to massively expand aviation will not only be felt by people living near airports, it will affect people worldwide and impact heavily on generations yet to come. "The Birmingham campaign will carry on and must defeat this proposal for a new runway in or around 2016. "It must go through various planning bodies and it will be a very contentious issue at next year's local elections." Chairman of Birmingham Forward's transport committee, David Daly, said: "This announcement is a victory for common sense. "We are delighted that the Government has recognised how crucial the expansion of BIA is to the survival and future growth of the region's economy. "For the future success of the BUSINESS region, taking no action was simply not an option." Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry said an extra runway for Birmingham would provide a blueprint for the future prosperity of the region through business investment. President David Grove said: "The decision is good for the perception of the city abroad. "It will be a great springboard for onward development at the NEC and place Birmingham as one of the major cities of Europe and the rest of the world. "We regard the decision as no less important than that." Nick Paul, chairman of Advantage West Midlands said: "The extension and expansion of Birmingham Airport is the only way forward to meet increasing demand and for the region to enjoy increasing prosperity. "Without it, passengers and business will be lost to other parts of the country and it will be hugely damaging to competitiveness and jobs in our region." | 
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