(Image source: PA)
Heathrow airport could impose a £15 congestion charge for drivers using the roads surrounding the airport.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling believes the charge is the only way to meet emissions targets which affect 82 miles of surrounding road, according to Whitehall sources.
The airport is consulting on plans for a “low emissions zone” which would charge all vehicles based on their emissions, but views it as a “last resort”, the Telegraph reported.
It would be part of a bid to encourage motorists to leave their vehicles at home.
Heathrow’s third runway would accommodate 740,000 flights a year, which is approximately 50 per cent more than its current capacity.
Annual passenger numbers are also expected to double to 130 million by 2050. An increase in road traffic is perceived to be the biggest threat to meeting emissions targets.
Pollution levels on the M4, which sits north of Heathrow, are currently two thirds above the legal cap.
But motorists heading to the airport account for just 14 per cent of traffic on the road heading, a spokeswoman for Heathrow said.
The airport disputed that the a figure of £15 had been put forward as the cost of any congestion charge.
They also denied that charged would be brought in over precisely 82 miles of road.
A Heathrow spokesperson told the Standard: “We have an ambitious plan to treble our rail capacity by 2040 and enable 30 million more passengers to use public transport.
"If needed, we have various options to apply emissions based charging to vehicles travelling to and from the airport – for example, using drop off charges based on vehicle emissions as other UK airports do - which could be another way to reduce road journeys and support our sustainable transport plans.”
They added: "As part of our 'triple lock' guarantee, we have promised that additional capacity at Heathrow will only be released when it is clear that the airport’s contribution will not delay compliance with EU air quality limits.
"During Heathrow’s recent consultation, the airport sought feedback on whether an emissions-based charge could be another way to reduce road journeys and support our sustainable transport plans."
Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, added: “Airlines remain opposed to what in effect will be another tax on air travel at a time when the Government continues to penalise passengers through sky-high levels of Air Passenger Duty, and passenger charges at Heathrow remain the highest in the world. It is also not fair on passengers who have no other realistic way of travelling to the airport.
“Investment in surface access should be the priority – not pricing people off the roads – and the Government should now come forward and use its upcoming National Policy Statement to set out which road and rail schemes it intends to support including much needed clarity on the funding of these projects and an accompanying plan for delivery.”
Source: Evening Standard