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  • 2 days ago
The latest transport news from across the capital.
Transcript
00:00In this week's round-up of major developments across London's transport network, three pressing issues have been dominating headlines.
00:10Mounting pressure on the mayor over gambling advertisements, a legal challenge to Luton Airport's expansion, and a soon-to-be-published report into the Heathrow Airport's power outage.
00:21Bereaved families have intensified calls for Mayor Sadiq Khan to deliver on a promise made four years ago to ban gambling advertisements from Transport for London services.
00:33The demand came in the form of a strongly worded letter sent to City Hall signed by 28 individuals harmed by gambling, including 20 family members who had lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide.
00:47Now, the signatories said the mayor had failed to act on a 2021 manifesto pledge in which Khan committed to instructing TfL to remove adverts promoting betting and casino services, citing the devastating way gambling addiction can destroy the lives of families.
01:08In their letter, campaigners asked how many more people must suffer or die before action is taken.
01:14Khan, however, has now stated that a national framework should be introduced from a Labour government before taking any further steps locally.
01:24This marks a shift from his position, with no local ban implemented to date.
01:33Meanwhile, opposition is mounting on the government's recent decision to approve an expansion of London Luton Airport.
01:41The Luton District Association for Control Aircraft Noise, otherwise known as LADACAN, are arguing that the development consent order granted in April was unlawful.
01:54LADACAN has claimed that Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander had overruled planning inspectors who had recommended that the airport's expansion be rejected.
02:04Their recommendation was based on environmental concerns, particularly relating to noise and carbon emissions that could harm the environment.
02:14In response, Alexander had stated last month that the expansion would deliver significant economic benefits, which she said was a key reason behind her decision.
02:24The Department for Transport declined to comment on the challenge, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
02:31And lastly, attention is turning to the aftermath of a major power outage that disrupted operations at Heathrow Airport back in March.
02:42The airport was effectively shut down on the 21st of March and all flights were suspended until about 6pm,
02:49following an unprecedented loss of electricity caused by a fire at a nearby substation the night before.
02:57The Internet for Transport

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