Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, gets home visit from carolling anti-3rd-runway campaigners
Date added: 20 December, 2017
A group of residents facing the misery that would result from a 3rd Heathrow runway made a light-hearted festive protest outside the home of the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling by singing re-worded Christmas carols -on the last night of the government Draft Airports NPS consultation. Only a couple of the campaigners knew the destination in advance so it wasn’t until leaving Harmondsworth that everyone discovered they would be singing outside Grayling’s house, his retreat from the daily grind of plotting the destruction of other people’s homes. Grayling himself was in Parliament at the time, and no family members appeared to be at home. The protesters drank mulled wine and festive drinks, and sang their own renditions of well-known carols, with suitably altered, anti-runway, words. A Stop Heathrow Expansion spokesperson commented “Looking down the drive from the road and seeing the sprawling detached house with it’s huge Christmas tree displayed in the un-curtained front window, it is easy to see why our Secretary State has no comprehension of the misery he will inflict on others with a third runway.” And they hoped Grayling would “spare a thought for people who face another Christmas under threat and reflect on their situation.” . Tweet
Grayling gets home visit from carolling campaigners
19.12.2017 (Stop Heathrow Expansion – SHE – website)
A group of residents facing the misery that would result from a third runway made a light-hearted festive protest outside the home of the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling by singing re-worded Christmas carols on the last night of the government consultation.
Only a couple of the campaigners knew the destination in advance so it wasn’t until leaving Harmondsworth that everyone discovered they would be singing outside Grayling’s house, his retreat from the daily grind of plotting the destruction of other people’s homes.
On arrival, it was evident from the cobwebs on his entry phone that Grayling doesn’t encourage visitors. Not even the Amazon delivery driver ventured down the driveway. (Mrs Grayling, don’t forget to pick up your post.)
Not even someone looking like Santa’s helper can get a response from the Grumpy Graylings Not even someone looking like Santa’s helper can get a response from the Grumpy Graylings
Looking down the drive from the road and seeing the sprawling detached house with it’s huge Christmas tree displayed in the uncurtained front window, it is easy to see why our Secretary State has no comprehension of the misery he will inflict on others with a third runway.
At one point, there was the sound of a solitary aircraft flying thousands of feet in the sky above. It demonstrated how hard it is to totally escape aircraft noise if you live anywhere near London, but it also makes you wonder if Grayling assumes this is anything like the reality of 24/7 airport noise.
Heathrow has regular flights when people are trying to sleep (an activity that won’t be banned with R3); HGV vehicles use and abuse local roads throughout the night; engine testing can take place at any time – even 4am; noisy road and plant maintenance is scheduled for times convenient for travellers NOT for those living nearby.
A quick search online revealed the house was bought 17 years ago, about the same time that residents in the Heathrow Villages have been living under threat of a third runway. During that time Grayling has enjoyed the security of knowing he has a home for his family for as long as he wishes to stay there. Meanwhile, thousands of others, thanks to our government, have had their homes repeatedly threatened with destruction or feared an increase in aircraft numbers and noise.
Long-time campaigners know that not only do senior politicians, like Grayling, have no understanding of the impact on the lives of residents in those situations, they also don’t want to know. It is easier to destroy vast areas when you don’t have to confront the reality.
Should the going get tough, these politicians can just disappear from public life and go home to their safe and cosy £1.7million investment, close to outstanding schools and all the other things that people suffering near Heathrow can only dream about.
Does anyone remember Labour Secretary of Secretary for Transport Ruth Kelly? She supported a third runway and wouldn’t listen to why it was undeliverable. Before long her political career and her plans for Heathrow expansion went down the pan.
When the Graylings celebrate during the holidays, we hope they will spare a thought for people who face another Christmas under threat and reflect on their situation.
Here are some words to sing-a-long:
“Sir Howard Davies was a lie/And no way independent./Fingers in the Heathrow pie/And property development./No-ooooo-oooooo-oooooo/ Ifs and buts,/There will be no third runway. ” — VERSE TO THE TUNE OF “DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH”
“Theresa May she gave us hope,/And shared our celebration./Five minutes into Number 10,/She U-turned on the nation./No-ooooo-oooooo-oooooo Ifs and Buts, /THERE WILL BE NO THIRD RUNWAY.”
Merry Christmas to everyone opposing “the catastrophic environmental consequences of a 3rd runway at Heathrow..” (quote from tweet by Adam Afriyie MP, Windsor)
The campaigners sang adapted carols outside the Transport Secretary’s house.
Anti-Heathrow expansion campaigners made a light-hearted festive protest outside Chris Grayling’s house before Christmas.
The group visited the Transport Secretary on the last night of the government consultation, singing re-worded carols.
One such adaption went (to the tune of Ding-Dong Merrily on High): “Sir Howard Davies [Airports Commission] was a lie/And no way independent/Fingers in the Heathrow pie/And property development/No-ooooo-oooooo-oooooo/ Ifs and buts/There will be no third runway.”
Only a couple of the campaigners knew the destination in advance, so to most of them it was a surprise to sing outside Mr Grayling’s house.
Neil Keveren, resident near Heathrow who attended the carol singing, said: “This was a fun event but with a very serious point.
“Mr. Grayling has the security of knowing he has a home for his family for this Christmas and as long as he wishes to stay there. Meanwhile, thousands of others, thanks to his Government, have had their homes threatened with destruction or feared an increase to the cap of 480,000 flights a year.”
The Residents Against Aircraft Noise protesters outside Chris Grayling’s house
A GROUP of Christmas themed protestors who fear hundreds of planes could soon fly over Ascot picketed the Transport Secretary’s house.
On Tuesday a second consultation into flight paths and noise pollution from Heathrow Airport finished.
In celebration, the Ascot based Residents Against Aircraft Noise travelled to Chris Grayling’s house in Ashstead to sing anti-third runway ballads, eat mince pies and generally be merry.
Although flight paths from the third runway have not been confirmed, indicative patterns suggest it could send planes over Ascot, Sunningdale and Sunninghill.
“We just wanted to let the Minister know the protest aren’t going to go away,” said Murray Barter, an Ascot resident and member of the group.
“There are two indicative flight paths that could go over Ascot. If they are chosen there are going to be several hundred aircraft flying overhead everyday.
“It is going to massively increase. People’s lives could shift in a paradigm way.”
It is thought the third runway at Heathrow will be completed by late 2025.
In the end Mr Grayling did not return to his home in time to meet the protesters, who left leaflets and banners on his gate.
