Christopher Pincher Supports the Expansion of Birmingham Airport

Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, this week discussed the expansion of Birmingham airport on the Sunday Politics show.

Mr Pincher supports the plans for the airport development and the re-opening of the Whitacre link – reducing the time between Tamworth and Birmingham International.

The proposed development for a second runway at Birmingham Airport, if approved, will result in a 4-fold increase in passenger capacity.  It is being proposed that a Brownfield landfill site will be used as the site for the second runway.

The proposed site near Packington Heath south of Meriden will not affect Tamworth nor will flight paths be affected.  Such an expansion could result in 60 million passengers using the airport every year and tens of thousands of new jobs in the Midlands.

The redevelopment and opening of a new rail link to between Coleshill Parkway and Birmingham International has also been proposed as part of the airport expansion.  The proposed links will mean there will be a direct route via rail from Tamworth to Birmingham international cutting journey time from 48 to 18 minutes.  The redevelopment of the line will open up new destinations direct from Tamworth such as Coventry and Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Mr Pincher said, “The expansion of Birmingham airport will bring great benefit to Tamworth and the Midlands as a whole.  A new runway at Birmingham airport will result in thousands of Jobs being created within 20 miles of Tamworth.

“We are in a global race and if want this country to be competitive then we must commit to the development of regional hubs such as Birmingham and “future proof” our airports.  We need an airport that can reach the new and expanding markets in East Asia and South America in one hop.

“That will help tourist travellers, business people and local investment.  And vitally, the expansion of Birmingham airport is necessary regardless of HS2 and whether or not those plans go ahead.”

If plans go ahead to expand the airport, up to 250,000 jobs could be created.  It also means that the pressure would be taken off West London and British air travel will be able to double.