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Independent London mayoral candidate Siobhan Benita has come out in support of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
Expansion of London's airport capacity is proving to be a hugely controversial topic, with incumbent mayor Boris Johnson supporting 'Boris Island' in the Thames Estuary and environmental campaigners trying to block any development full stop.
In an interview with Business Green, mayoral hopeful Benita waded into the argument by claiming that Boris Island would be "disastrous for the environment".
However, she also dismissed the environmental campaigners' stance as "unrealistic" because expansion is necessary.
"All the evidence shows the best option is to expand the national hub we already have," she said.
"You can give them [the airlines] a third runway at Heathrow, but bring in a noise or emissions reduction programme so they are not allowed to exceed current levels."
Last month, prime minister David Cameron said the government would explore the pros and cons of Boris Island.
Kent County Council leader Paul Carter described the plans as "horrendous".
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