Runway madness

A proposal for expanding Heathrow Airport by an addition of a third runway (Editorial, 3 August) makes no sense, both in respect to environmental damage and the huge cost.

The added disturbance of landing and take-off close to the large residential area of west London would be unacceptable.

In terms of European travel, high-speed railways can play a more important role.

The Swedish and Danish governments recognised this in the building of the Oresund Fixed Link between Denmark and Sweden across the Baltic, for both rail and road traffic.

The outcome in terms of convenient travel across northern Europe has been very beneficial.

With regard to air travel across the Atlantic, more use should be made of Prestwick Airport, which many pilots regard as the safest airport in the UK; like Copenhagen Airport, landing and take-off are across water. When Prestwick can be connected to a high-speed rail line connecting to Edinburgh, Birmingham and London, 
safer travel in this way could be the preferred option for many travellers.

Alan Wightman

Isle of Skye