More runways or less pollution: government can't decide

I totally agree with the penultimate paragraph of your Comment "...we should start at last to see government taking a serious response to the changing and increasing threat from the environment" (NCE 19 June).

Unfortunately the government appears to be taking the opposite view, not least agreeing with BAA's proposed 50% increase in capacity at Heathrow and not objecting to BAA's proposal to make Stansted capacity more than Heathrow.

It has ignored the Environment Agency and the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) in objecting to Heathrow expansion, quite apart from ignoring vast public opposition.

In fact, SDC has stated that government should completely rewrite its aviation policy. This is apart from the views of local residents, local MPs, the Archbishop of Canterbury and all those genuinely concerned about environmental damage –  hopefully including civil engineers.

No doubt you will allow space for a wide variety of views over the next few weeks and months.

COLIN CLARKE (M), The Moat House, Church Road, Hargrave, Northants, NN9 6BQ