Gatwick’s anti-Heathrow leaflets in Boris’ constituency may cause him trouble
Gatwick airport is distributing 400,000 leaflets in the areas around Heathrow claiming that a new runway at Gatwick would affect fewer people than one at Heathrow. Gatwick particularly targeted Uxbridge and South Ruislip, with 86,000 leaflets being distributed there, more than in any other constituency. Uxbridge happens to be the seat being contested by Boris Johnson. Boris is known to have strong views against a new runway at Heathrow; if he is elected, and if the courts were to decide that the leaflets give tacit support to his campaign, the cost of the leaflets would need to be added to his election expenses. If that took him over the limit it could result in his election being declared void. Or the other anti-Heathrow election candidates. GACC is disgusted by the cynical tactics being deployed by Gatwick. Their leaflet is inaccurate as it ignores the fact that lower background noise levels around Gatwick mean that almost as many people would be annoyed as at Heathrow. Until now Heathrow Ltd have pursued a gentlemanly policy of not criticising the Gatwick runway plans, while Gatwick has spent millions on attacking Heathrow. The leaflets may at last so annoy Heathrow Ltd that they will launch a devastating counter-attack.
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Gatwick may unseat Boris
18.4.2015 (GACC – Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)
Gatwick are targeting Uxbridge and South Ruislip, with 86,000 leaflets being distributed there, more than in any other constituency. Uxbridge happens to be the seat being contested by Boris Johnson.
Boris is known to have strong views against a new runway at Heathrow. If Boris is elected, and if the courts were to decide that the leaflets give tacit support to his campaign, the cost of the leaflets would need to be added to his election expenses. If that took him over the limit it could result in his election being declared void.
GACC is disgusted by the cynical tactics being deployed by Gatwick Airport. They are distributing 400,000 leaflets in the areas around Heathrow claiming that a new runway at Gatwick would affect fewer people than one at Heathrow.
“These leaflets are inaccurate and nasty,” says Brendon Sewill, Chairman of GACC.
GACC claims that the leaflets are inaccurate because they ignore the fact that lower background noise levels around Gatwick mean that almost as many people would be annoyed as at Heathrow. Nasty because they aim to make 400,000 people into selfish NIMBYS. The classic definition of a NIMBY is a person who wants to move a nuisance away from their own area and does not care if someone else suffers.
It is difficult to understand the motivation behind this latest splurge of publicity. It will not have any influence on the Airports Commission, indeed the Commission are likely to be annoyed. They are conducting a methodical and rational investigation and will not welcome a further attempt to turn it into an X Factor contest.
The Commission asked the rival airports to consult local people. Gatwick did so a year ago, holding 16 exhibitions to explain their runway plans. But they got a bloody nose, with 85% of the public saying NO RUNWAY. Gatwick concealed that result and have not dared to hold any public meetings near Gatwick since. Instead they are wooing councils and the public around Heathrow.
Apart from unseating Boris, the leaflets may have another surprising result. Until now Heathrow Ltd have pursued a gentlemanly policy of not criticising the Gatwick runway plans, while Gatwick has spent millions on attacking Heathrow. The leaflets may at last so annoy Heathrow Ltd that they will launch a devastating counter-attack.
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See earlier:
Gatwick distributes 400,000 flyers around west London warning of Heathrow noise (to get backing for Gatwick runway)
As Gatwick has difficulty getting much local support for its runway plans (almost all local councils and local MPs oppose it) this week the airport is distributing 400,000 flyers to homes across west London. Uxbridge and South Ruislip in particular are being targeted, (86,000 leaflets) warning about the increased noise there would be from a Heathrow 3rd runway. Gatwick has focused its attention on negative campaigning about Heathrow, though Heathrow has not – publicly – being doing the equivalent on Gatwick. Gatwick is not revealing the cost of their 400,000 leaflet effort. As the local residents do not have the ability to choose whether a runway is built, the aim is to influence local politicians. Gatwick claims that 683,000 people and 362 schools would be impacted by noise if a 3rd Heathrow runway was built, while only 36,000 people and 15 schools by a Gatwick runway. In the 55 Lden contour. (Clever of them, as the flight paths are not yet know …. nobody knows the numbers). Heathrow and Gatwick are arguing over the figures. Gatwick appears to discount the impact of increased noise from its own planned runway. This has infuriated local residents in the Gatwick area. Gatwick’s ploy of leafleting people near Heathrow, who are rightly frightened at the prospect of a 3rd runway – playing on their fears – has further increased local opposition.
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Candidates in Uxbridge & South Ruislip pledge to oppose Heathrow runway, though Labour candidate doubtful
Prospective parliamentary candidates for Uxbridge and South Ruislip made promises – if they got in to parliament – about how they would vote on HS2 and Heathrow Airport at a hustings debate. Candidates from 4 of the 5 main political parties took part – but not the Conservative candidate, Boris Johnson. All four candidates said they would vote against any bill seeking to approve a Heathrow runway. However, there were doubts about the position of the Labour candidate, Chris Summers (a councillor in Ealing). Mr Summers suggested that any future government should follow whatever recommendation is published in June by the Airports Commission. He said: “I think it is right we have this Davies Commission that’s looking into the issue, and I think there is something to be argued that they are the experts, and if they recommend a certain way, then it does seem that it will be a basic political decision if whichever government rejects that…” The constituency contains much of Hillingdon, which is one of the councils most deeply opposed to a new runway. In a Hillingdon borough referendum in May 2013 66% were against a third runway. The ballot also showed the same number (66.3 per cent) do not want see any more flights in and out of the airport. The extent to which Mr Summers is listening to his residents, or just following Labour party policy, is questioned.
https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/03/25644/
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Earlier:
Gatwick’s consultation shows some 85% of respondents oppose a 2nd Gatwick runway
Gatwick Airport held a consultation over April and May 2014, to try to get backing for its plans for a 2nd runway, and the option the airport wants – the wide spaced option with the runway used for both arrivals and departures. This has always been what the airport wanted, and the proposal the Airports Commission short listed. The consultation gave two options, that the airport did not want and has no interest in. The consultation also initially had no means for any respondent to express their opposition to any new Gatwick runway, but eventually a “none of these options” box was added – difficult to locate, far into the document. The survey results are now out. They are deeply irritating to the airport, as they show huge opposition to any runway. Of about 7,700 respondents, well over 80% said NO. Of the 7,700 or so, only 733 backed Option 3 ( the runway option Gatwick wants) and 2,165 did not want a runway at all. 4,003 responses came through the Woodland Trust and these are being discounted, unjustifiably, as though part of an e-campaign, many contained specific comments made by the respondents. Taking all the responses for no runway, they amount to some 85% of the total. Even discounting the Woodland Trust responses, 66% opposed a new runway.
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