News Jan 2009

BAA appoints new construction boss

30th January 2009         BAA has appointed Steve Morgan as its new head of construction and design. Morgan
will oversee the expansion of Heathrow in his role as capital director. The former
commercial director at British Nuclear Fuels will replace Rob Stewart who will
now report to Morgan as construction director. Morgan will lead BAA’s £6.6bn investment
plan as the capital director overseeing construction and design at 7 airports.
(Building)      

Click here to view full story…

Runway opponents reveal rail plan

 30th January 2009         Opponents of a 3rd runway for Heathrow have revealed plans to make it the centre
of a rail network. The 2M Group said its £1.5bn proposal could reduce demand for
flights. The coalition of 22 councils said the west London airport should be a
hub of a local rail network linking it to 150 stations within a 25-mile radius.
This network could be a third of the cost of the Heathrow Hub scheme, favoured
by ministers, and better for local people. (BBC)  

Click here to view full story…

 

Michael Meacher : Parliament is wrong on Heathrow (Guardian Comment)

29th January 2009       The government lost the argument for a 3rd runway, but finagled last night’s
Commons vote. This is not over by a long, long way. The handling of the whole
Heathrow issue is regarded as a debacle, that parliament has not been able to
correct. The EU could still intervene to halt the runway if pollution levels are
not brought down. Under the new Planning Act the final decision awaits the formation
of a new, still unappointed, infrastructure planning commission.      
Click here to view full story…




 

Heathrow third runway vote passed

29th January 2009       The Government narrowly won a vote on the third runway forced by the Conservative
Party, although its majority was cut by two-thirds to just 19 after 28 Labour
MPs rebelled. The size of the rebellion confirmed Brown’s fears of a close vote.
The small margin of victory will be embarrassing for the Government and the Prime
Minister. This is the largest Labour rebellion on an opposition motion since the
party took power in 1997. (Independent)  

Click here to view full story…



 

Government Majority Slashed by Two Thirds on Heathrow

29th January 2009         At the end of the debate in the House of Commons yesterday on Heathrow expansion
the Government’s majority was slashed by two-thirds. It scraped home by a mere
19 votes. If 8 Democratic Unionists had voted with the opposition parties instead
of the Government, Labour’s majority would have been down to one. As it was, this
was the biggest rebellion on an opposition motion since Labour came to power in
1997 – and makes the 3rd runway less likely. (Hacan)         Click here to view full story…



 

Government scrapes home in Heathrow expansion vote

28th January 2009         The Government narrowly won a vote on the controversial 3rd runway at Heathrow
after a ministerial aide quit in disgust over the plan. The government’s majority
of 63 was cut to 19 in a Commons vote after Andrew Slaughter resigned as a PPS.
After the vote Labour MP Virendra Sharma quit an unpaid government post to fight
the plans. 57 Labour MPs had previously signed EDM 2344, of whom 28 voted for
the Conservative motion. (Telegraph and BBC)         Click here to view full story…



 

Government aide quits to join rebels on eve of Commons vote on Heathrow expansion

 28th January 2009         A government aide – Andrew Slaughter – has resigned in protest at the decision
to expand Heathrow. He resigned to be able to vote with the Conservatives in the
Commons in the debate today – and that it is a quality of life issue. Andrew Slaughter
is parliamentary private secretary to the Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown,
and MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush. His constituency will be irrevocably
changed by Heathrow expansion. (Guardian)         Click here to view full story…



 

Third Heathrow runway would scupper Stansted and Glasgow expansion

28th January 2009         A new runway at Heathrow would result in every other British airport having to
abandon expansion plans to meet the Government’s climate change target, a study
has suggested. The increase in CO2 emissions would mean other airports might be
forced to cut thousands of flights a year, and need to scrap new runways at Stansted
and in Scotland. More than 20 Labour MPs are expected to rebel against the Government
today by voting against Heathrow expansion. (Times)         Click here to view full story…

Battle of the email campaigns on third runway at Heathrow

27th January 2009         Greenpeace are asking opponents of the third runway to email the 57 Labour MPs
who have opposed it, before the debate and vote in Parliament on 28th January.
Greenpeace want to persuade the MPs to vote against. Meanwhile, Unite are also
asking all their members to email MPs to vote for the expansion. Mail boxes are
filling up ……  

Click here to view full story…  


 

Bird Cull to Keep Jets Safe at Heathrow

27th January 2009       10,000 Canada Geese will need to be culled near Heathrow to prevent a plane crash
like the one on the Hudson River, a leading Government adviser has warned. John
Allan, an expert in bird management at the Central Science Laboratory, said birds
were large enough to “bring a plane down” if they hit an engine. Heathrow has
a particular problem, he said, as 10,000 of the birds roost in lakes and quarries
south of the airport and feed to its north. (London Paper)       Click here to view full story…



 

Runway opponents unveil Heathrow ‘rail hub’

 27th January 2009         The coalition of councils opposing the 3rd runway will launch plans for a new
rail network around Heathrow. The 2M Group claim 40 trains an hour could pass
through the airport. Their blueprint, Getting to Heathrow, to be launched on Thursday,
shows that the airport could become a rail hub serving large areas of London and
the South-East. The new local network would provide links to mainline services
and a London-to-Scotland high-speed rail line.   (Standard)       Click here to view full story…



 

Balfour Beatty wins Heathrow East contract

 27th January 2009         Engineering firm Balfour Beatty said it won a 750 million pound contract for
construction work on the eastern development at London’s Heathrow Airport. The
work to realign taxiways and build new aircraft stands to the east of Terminals
1 and 2 is scheduled for completion in late 2009.     (Reuters)         Click here to view full story…



 

Watchdog casts doubt on Heathrow third runway

27th January 2009         The head of Britain’s environmental watchdog has branded the 3rd runway a “mistake”,
saying it is unlikely to be built because of the huge political uncertainty surrounding
the project. Lord Smith of Finsbury, chairman of the Environment Agency, said
there was “a very big chance” that the project would stall given the threat of
legal action from campaigners and resistance from the Tories and Liberal Democrats.
(FT)  

Click here to view full story…

Boris Johnson unveils £40bn Heathrow-on-Sea

 25th January 2009         Boris has unveiled detailed proposals for a £40 billion airport spanning the
Thames estuary in a move aimed at presenting a credible alternative to the government’s
plans for expanding Heathrow. Early findings from a study by the engineer behind
Hong Kong’s island airport suggest that a 4-runway airport is both technically
feasible and would serve Britain better. It could be built in 8 years, and entails
runways on two separate islands in the Thames. (Times)         Click here to view full story…



 

Tories at odds over plans for third runway at Heathrow

24th January 2009         David Cameron faces a backbench rebellion over the Conservative Party’s opposition
to a third runway at Heathrow airport, as a number of senior opposition figures
voice support for the £9bn expansion plan. The Conservatives have called a Commons
vote, which will not be binding on the Government, for next Wednesday. Several
Tory frontbenchers also have misgivings – Alan Duncan, Chris Grayling, and Philip
Hammond are mentioned. (Independent)         Click here to view full story…

 

Road Transport Industry backs a 3rd runway for Heathrow

 23rd January 2009         Road transport bosses have come out in support of the government’s decision to
build a 3rd runway at Heathrow. The head of global supply chain policy at the
Freight Transport Association, says: “Few people realise that around 90% of all
air freight is moved by passenger plane and Heathrow accounts for over half of
the UK’s air freight by weight, so its operational efficiency has a huge impact
on UK and international business.” (RoadTransport)         Click here to view full story…

 

Heathrow decision criticised by Monarch airline boss

22nd January 2009         The managing director of Monarch Airlines has denounced Government plans to expand
Heathrow, due to the environmental impact on homes in west London. He said the
expansion of the airport would have a detrimental impact on the lives of a million
people in west London, and would prevent the aviation industry from being taken
seriously over environmental issues – and he doubted new technology and fuels
could mean aircraft will emit 50% less CO2. (Telegraph)         Click here to view full story…



 

£1.5bn Heathrow East terminal delayed

 22nd January 2009         BAA has confirmed that the construction schedule on its £1.5bn Heathrow East
project has slipped until the end of this year. The news came as the government
gave its backing to ambitious plans to build a 3rd runway and 6th terminal at
the airport worth up to £7.6bn. A BAA spokeswoman said that full construction
work would not start until the end of 2009. It had been due to be ready in 2012.
However BAA is struggling to raise funds. (Contract Journal)           Click here to view full story…



 

Reading MP on attack over third Heathrow runway

21st January 2009         Reading East MP Rob Wilson laid into Hoon over his announcement on plans for
a 3rd Heathrow runway. Mr Wilson told Geoff Hoon in the House of Commons: "Can
I suggest to the Secretary of State that few people in my constituency will take
any comfort from either of his two statements. People now have a clear choice.
If they don’t want the runway, vote Conservative, if they do and are happy to
see our environment destroyed, vote Labour."   (Get Reading)       Click here to view full story…



 

I’ll stand in front of the bulldozers if I have to – Sipson

 20th January 2009         In the village of Sipson, thousands of lawyers’ letters have started falling
through the letterboxes. They talk of “compulsory purchase” and “compensation”
and “acting on behalf of” residents “to secure the best price” for their properties.
But their arrival, just 4 days after the Government gave BAA the go-ahead to build
a 3rd runway, a decision that spells demolition for the 1,000-year-old hamlet
and its 700 homes, is seen as indecently hasty. (Standard)         Click here to view full story…



 

Bukinghamshire CC says ‘no’ to 3rd Runway and demands answers to concerns about
potential impact of new rail ‘hub’

20th January 2009       Buckinghamshire County has slammed the Government’s go ahead for a 3rd runway
at Heathrow. It has also raised serious concerns about the new proposed ‘Heathrow
Rail Hub’. It said “The health risks alone should rule this proposal out. Air
pollution around the airport (including parts of southern Bucks) is already above
EU limits and there is no guarantee at all that they can be got down to target
levels if this proposal goes ahead.” (Bucks CC)         Click here to view full story…

Mayor Boris Johnson blasts Heathrow vote ruling

19th January 2009       Boris Johnson has accused the prime minister of not having the “guts” to let
MPs vote on plans to build Heathrow’s third runway. Pledging to support a legal
challenge, the Tory mayor said: “I have absolutely no doubt we are going to be
successful. This runway will not be built.” He confirmed he would contribute £15,000
of public money to help support a legal challenge, possibly on the grounds of
noise, congestion and the security risks. + videoclip. (BBC)       Click here to view full story…

Some Guardian letters on the Heathrow 3rd runway decision

19th January 2009         Several letters. One states: Unless supporters for expansion can demonstrate
a high probability that sufficient fuel at an acceptable price will remain available
for the next 40 years, it seems likely that a 3rd runway would soon be redundant
– a divisive and expensive white elephant. Another: Obviously we cannot build
long-lasting infrastructure that locks us into a high-emissions future and drastically
cut CO2 emissions. This is scientific fact.

Click here to view full story…

Fury at airport lobby links to No 10

 18th January 2009       Senior MPs are demanding a Commons investigation into evidence of a “revolving
door” policy between Downing Street, Whitehall and BAA, following last week’s
decision by ministers to approve a 3rd runway at Heathrow. MPs believe that BAA
and BA were able to crush the environment lobby thanks to a network of contacts
with the government and the Labour party. Tom Kelly, formerly Blair’s official
spokesman, has taken charge of “all BAA’s communication activity”. (Observer)      
Click here to view full story…

Comedian Alistair McGowan fights Heathrow expansion plans

18th January 2009     Interview with Alistair. It’s not a middle-class thing!" If sea levels are rising
and you have a £2m house, forget it! Everyone is affected by it. And referring
to La Thompson’s air miles, "I’m sure Emma flew to the Golden Globes. This is
the sort of thing which riles me! Every time small companies such as Greenpeace
campaign about something, people say, ‘How did you get there? Did you fly? Did
you go by car?’" He groans at the clichéd nature of it all. (Sunday Times)     Click here to view full story…  


 

Heathrow rebel alliance is cleared for take-off

18th January 2009         While the government’s decision was a bitter disappointment, "Now, at last, we’ve
actually got something to fight against," said one opponent. Hoon’s statement
lit the touchpaper of a wide-ranging protest movement – a campaign that will be
waged by a hotchpotch but effective army, from the front bench of the Tory opposition,
to long-suffering families living under flight paths in west London and Greenpeace’s
direct action demonstrators. (Sunday Times)         Click here to view full story…  


 

Mandelson bangs head on table in bitter Cabinet feud over Heathrow runway

18th January 2009             Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary, banged his head on the Cabinet table
in frustration during a bitter ministerial row over the decision to give the go-ahead
for a 3rd runway at Heathrow Airport. This came at the height of what government
sources described as Brown’s most ill-tempered Cabinet meeting. The new details
of Tuesday’s meeting show that the rift among senior ministers is even deeper
and more damaging than has been suggested up to now. (Telegraph)       Click here to view full story…  


 

Hoon accused of ignoring public with ‘unpopular’ Heathrow plans

 17th January 2009         Geoff Hoon has been accused of ignoring the public’s views by approving a 3rd
runway despite only a fraction of respondents to a government consultation supporting
the idea. Respondents, 70,000 in total, weren’t specifically asked if they were
in favour of an expansion programme. However, 25,337 respondents voluntarily noted
that they opposed expansion and only 8,128 said they supported it. NoTRAG said
the “Brown Runway” is massively unpopular. (Indy)           Click here to view full story…



 

Hoon and Emma Thompson exchange flak over flights

17th January 2009         The cabinet minister who is pushing through the expansion of Heathrow has hit
out at celebrity environmentalists who talk green politics while flying across
the globe. Geoff Hoon picked on the Oscar winner Emma Thompson who emerged as
a leading figure in the campaign to stop the 3rd runway. Emma replied: “Get a
grip Geoff. This is not a campaign against flying – we’re trying to stop the expansion
of Heathrow in the face of climate change.” (Guardian)         Click here to view full story…

 

BAA claims breach of human rights having to sell airports

16th January 2009                     BAA could be headed for a courtroom showdown with competition investigators after
it claimed that plans to break it up would breach human rights law. BAA said Competition
Commission proposals to make it sell Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh airports
to smash its market dominance broke European laws against property seizure. The
challenge was contained in evidence published yesterday in the commission’s airports
probe, could test the CC’s authority. (FT)           Click here to view full story…



 

Heathrow runway ready by 2015 under new laws

 16th January 2009         The new runway could be built 5 years earlier than expected as Government rushes
the process to prevent opponents from blocking it. The £9 billion expansion, which
will increase Heathrow’s capacity by almost 50%, is likely to be one of the first
considered by the Infrastructure Planning Commission, due to be appointed this
year. The inquiry will be much shorter and simply consider whether the application
complies with Government aviation policy. (Times)         Click here to view full story…



 

BAA given Heathrow runway deadline

16th January 2009         (FT)         Click here to view full story…  

 

MP John McDonnell is suspended to the cheers of an admiring kingdom

16th January 2009         (Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail).       Click here to view full story…  

 

DfT releases Heathrow consultation responses – showing an overwhelming NO An
Overwhelming NO

16th January 2009           (HACAN)         Click here to view full story…  

 

Geoff Hoon’s ministerial statement on Heathrow on 15th January

 16th January 2009         The Department for Transport have released the text of Geoff Hoon’s statement
in the Commons, and also the results of the consultation last year. Full text
available.

Click here to view full story…  


 

Opponents vow to fight plan for Heathrow third runway

16th January 2009         (Independent)         Click here to view full story…  

 

Hoon gives go-ahead for new Heathrow runway

15th January 2009         Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has told MPs in Parliament that the government
has approved plans to build a 3rd runway. The Cranford agreement will end. The
Tories called it a “bleak day for the environment” and said they would “fight
it every step of the way”. the debate was halted when local Labour MP John McDonnell
shouted “disgrace” as the transport secretary said MPs would not get a vote on
the decision. After refusing requests to end his protest he was ordered out of
the Commons and suspended for a week. (BBC)    

Click here to view full story…



 

New runway will swallow up the village of Sipson

15th January 2009       (Independent)     Click here to view full story…

 

Heathrow protesters smash glass doors at Department for Transport

 16th January 2009         (Telegraph)       Click here to view full story…

 

Heathrow decision – “The Decision of the Dinosaurs”

15th January 2009           (HACAN press release).       Click here to view full story…



Heathrow third runway ‘gets go-ahead’

15th January 2009           Ministers have approved the plan to build a 3rd runway, the BBC understands.
Despite opposition from residents, environmental campaigners and many of its own
MPs, Labour is set to confirm the decision officially on Thursday. Critics say
it will irreparably damage the UK’s credentials on tackling climate change. Gordon
Brown said that should the government give the go-ahead, there would be a debate
in Parliament and that the scheme would have to be granted planning permission.
(BBC)       Click here to view full story…

 

The Big Question: Will the latest Heathrow protest halt the development of a
third runway?

14th January 2009         Click here to view full story… 

 

Third runway rebels hear from the whips

14th January 2009         (Guardian)           Click here to view full story…  

 

Brown ‘dithering over Heathrow’

14th January 2009             (BBC)       Click here to view full story…  

 

A runway for jobs? It’s time aviation’s bluff was called

14th January 2009         Guardian).     Click here to view full story…  

 

The end of their world – some of those whose lives will be devastated by the
3rd runway

 14th January 2009           . (Guardian).     Click here to view full story…  

 

Heathrow: anxiety grips Labour backbenchers – decision may be delayed

13th January 2009             Click here to view full story…

Protesters buy up Heathrow land

13th January 2009         (BBC and Greenpeace).           Click here to view full story…  

 

Heathrow: anxiety grips Labour backbenchers – decision may be delayed

13th January 2009           (Guardian and Sky News)       Click here to view full story…



 

Lobbyists raise pressure on Heathrow

13th January 2009           (FT).       Click here to view full story…
 

Hundreds of green campaigners hold picnic protest at Heathrow in opposition to
third runway plans

13th January 2009          
 (Mail)       Click here to view full story…


Protesters hail ‘colourful and fun’ anti-Heathrow demonstration

13th January 2009               Click here to view full story…
 


Emma Thompson joins forces with Greenpeace to buy Heathrow runway land

13th January 2009         . (Telegraph).                Click here to view full story…


‘Back Heathrow’s third runway and safeguard over 200,000 jobs’, urges Unite

12th January 2009           (Unite press release).         Click here to view full story…    


 

Pro Heathrow Runway Campaigners Take Out Ads

12th January 2009        (Yahoo news).       Click here to view full story…  

 

Bosses urge Heathrow’s expansion

12th January 2009           (BBC)    

Click here to view full story…  


 

Go-ahead for development will intensify debate on air quality and noise pollution

12th January 2009         (Guardian).       Click here to view full story…  

 

Labour rebels opposed to third runway give backing to new airport in Thames estuary

12th January 2009         (Guardian).     Click here to view full story…
 


PM “set to approve Heathrow runway” and “New runways ‘vital for jobs’ “

11th January 2009             (Sunday Mirror and Express)       Click here to view full story…  



 

Heathrow Airport rail bid to raise £10m

11th January 2009                   (Times)         Click here to view full story…  

 

Real battle begins over 3rd runway at Heathrow

 11th January 2009         (Telegraph)       Click here to view full story…  

 

‘Bullying’ BAA tries to scare off protesters

 11th January 2009           (Observer)     Click here to view full story…  

 

Heathrow’s third runway to fall foul of EU rules

11th January 2009        
(Indy)       Click here to view full story…  

 

More people used London’s airports in 2000 than used all the Paris airports in
2007

11th January 2009        
(Hacan)       Click here to view full story…  

 

Heathrow runway ‘white elephant’

 11th January 2009           
 (BBC)         Click here to view full story…  

 

Heathrow expansion will undermine climate targets

 10th January 2009        
. (FoE)       Click here to view full story…  

 

Brown poised to face down Heathrow opposition

 10th January 2009      
 (Telegraph)        Click here to view full story…


‘Heathrow is a monster. It must be fed’ – John Stewart interview in the Guardian

10th January 2009           Click here to view full story… 



Heathrow terminal faces blockade by activists posing as passengers

10th January 2009           (Times)     Click here to view full story…

Imagine this once every 5 minutes – Bromley and flight path changes

7th January 2009      .(Bromley Times)     Click here to view full story…



Heathrow rail hub, HS2 and third runway all being planned?

7th January 2009      . (Rail News)         Click here to view full story…

Bristol-Heathrow rail link considered

6th January 2009        . (This is Bristol)       Click here to view full story…



Birmingham Heathrow high-speed link could hit BIA

6th January 2009        (Birmingham Post)           Click here to view full story…

 
 

Heathrow rail link a ‘cynical ploy’

5th January 2009    (Indy)         Click here to view full story…  

 

New flight paths for Heathrow will bring jets’ roar to millions

5th January 2009           (Times)       Click here to view full story…  

 

Heathrow could get high speed rail hub

5th January 2009          . (Indy)   Click here to view full story…



 

Hoon: Heathrow study on pollution ‘over-cautious’

5th January 2009             (Standard)       Click here to view full story…



 

BAA emission controls fail to halt airport breaching pollution limits

4th January 2009          . (Sunday Times)                   Click here to view full story…  

 

Voters to make Labour MPs pay on Heathrow expansion

4th January 2009                         (Sunday Times)   Click here to view full story…

 

BAA ‘incapable of keeping a New Year’s Resolution’

1st January 2009         HACAN has released footage of promises made by BAA over ten years ago insisting
it did not want a third runway and that it was committed to retaining runway alternation.
The video footage shows Sir John Egan, at the time the BAA chief executive, making
firm promises that BAA did not want a 3rd runway or a 14 lane M25 and supported
the retention of runway alternation. BAA have admitted that Egan had lied in order
to get Terminal 5 approved. (Hacan)         Click here to view full story…