CLAIMS that Heathrow’s proposed third runway is vital for the future of flights from the North-East have been branded a “red herring”.

Tory Shadow Minister for Teesside Greg Clark described Labour’s plans for another runway at the London airport as “short-sighted”.

Instead, he said the region’s concerns about connectivity to the capital could be answered by a high-speed rail link.

In an interview with The Northern Echo, Mr Clark rejected an assertion by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon that only by expanding the London airport would capacity for more flights from the UK regions be created.

Mr Clark, who is also Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said: “I feel the problems of Durham Tess Valley (DTV) are problems of today and the idea that they may be solved by a third runway, which could take ten years, is a red herring.”

The Teesside-born politician said that he recognised the importance of good air links to Heathrow.

He added that he hoped bmi would restore daily flights from DTV once the country was out of recession.

“The link to Heathrow has been around for 40 years and it has been an important part of the region’s connectives with the capital – it’s important for business travellers and tourists,” he said.

However, the politician added that after the high-speed TGV was built in France, many travellers stopped flying and took the train instead.

He claimed that a high-speed rail line in the UK would have the same effect – which would mean landing slots at Heathrow being freed up for flights from the regions.

The Tories have proposed that the rail link initially connects London and Leeds.

It would then be extended to Scotland via the North-East, Mr Clark added.

“I think it’s incredibly short-sighted to take the approach of a third runway at Heathrow at what is already a hugely dysfunctional and congested airport,” he said.

“Other European countries like Germany, France and Spain now have high-speed rail links and the North- East would benefit from one too.”