Given the current state of, and the dire forecasts for, the UK economy, you might think that any decisions about major road / air expansions would be delayed for a year or two. But not according to this article from the BBC: Airport expansion gets go-ahead (Updated regularly. This is the original text):

Controversial plans for an expansion of Stansted Airport in Essex have been given the go-ahead by the government.

Airport owner BAA wants to increase passenger numbers from 25 million to 35 million a year and flights leaving the airport from 241,000 to 264,000 a year.

Objectors said an expansion would damage the environment but some unions said the proposal could bring new jobs.

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon made the announcement in a written statement to Parliament on Thursday.

Environmental concerns

Stansted's managing director, Stewart Wingate, said the decision was "great news" for passengers.

He said: "We are naturally delighted that the Secretaries of State have granted permission for the next phase of growth at Stansted."

Planning permission for the expansion was originally refused on grounds of noise and environmental concerns by Uttlesford District Council in November 2006.

A public inquiry was held into the proposals during which BAA said there would be measures to control, manage and minimise predicted impacts on the local environment.

Members of the Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign group have held a long-running campaign against the plans.

It is unfortunate that the BBC has decided not to discuss the number of airlines that have gone bust this year, and forecast for those to go bust over the next few months:

Global airlines in deep crisis, 26 already go bust: IATA

Another 30 airlines will go bust before Christmas, warns BA chief as 90,000 XL passengers figure out how to get home

Am I safe to book next year's holiday?

The UK government seems to be so detached from reality the big question is: how are these clowns going to deal with the more serious issues of declining supplies of oil and natural gas, and the UK's unreliable electricity supplies?