Elderly couple in Harmondsworth vow to fight Heathrow 3rd runway, which would see their home bulldozed

Armelle Thomas, wife of a 93-year-old WW2 veteran and Harmondsworth resident, is “incensed” after a Heathrow letter was delivered to her door 90 minutes after the Airport Commission’s recommendation. The letter was a reminder about the compulsory purchase order on her home – just 90 minutes after the Davies recommendation for a 3rd Heathrow (destroying most of Harmondsworth) was announced. The couple face their home being bulldozed if the north-west runway goes ahead. Arnelle says there is “no way” they’d consider leaving the village her husband “fell in love with” when he first moved there in 1964.  She was shocked that Heathrow had those letters out within just 90 minutes of the announcement.  Armelle said: “If they actually try to bulldoze, my husband – who by then will be 97 – will be standing outside and we’ll see what happens. We have no intention of moving. My husband has the right to die in this house and I promised him as much.” A promise made is a promise kept.” Tommy fought in World War 2 with distinction, and now in his twilight years, he is going to be turned out of his home. This plays on his mind all the time, and the stress is not helping his health. All Heathrow is offering is 125% of the price of the homes to be demolished. Their house prices have been blighted for years by Heathrow.
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Hayes & Harlington MP John McDonnell says the Davies Commission has “absolutely failed” to take account of the “heartbreak” caused by its recommendations.

He said: “So many local families are now in the appalling situation of facing the loss of their homes and community.

“Teachers and children at our village primary schools are at risk of losing their jobs and their school places. The threat of this upheaval is devastating.”

Mr McDonnell has convened a public meeting for residents at 7.30pm on Thursday (July 9) at Heathrow Primary School, Sipson.

 

 

Elderly couple vow to fight Heathrow third runway which would see their home bulldozed

9.7.2015  (Get West London)

By KATHERINE CLEMENTINE

Armelle Thomas, wife of a 93-year-old WW2 veteran, is “incensed” after a Heathrow letter was delivered to her door 90 minutes after the Airport Commission’s recommendation

Mrs Thomas with the letter delivered 90 minutes after the Davies recommendation, and her husband’s war medals

A Harmondsworth resident was “incensed” after receiving a letter reminding her of a compulsory purchase order on her home – just 90 minutes after the Davies recommendation was announced.

Armelle Thomas, of Cambridge Close, is in a “fighting mood” after the news that the Airport Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, has recommended a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Mrs Thomas and her husband Tommy, a 93-year old WW2 veteran, face their homes being bulldozed if the north-west runway goes ahead.

She says there is “no way” they’d consider leaving the village her husband “fell in love with” when he first moved there in 1964.

Speaking to getwestlondon, Mrs Thomas said: “It’s not so much the letter which I found shocking, it’s that they delivered it in 90 minutes to our door. The letter has probably gone worldwide now because I was so incensed it was all over the media.

“If they actually try to bulldoze, my husband – who by then will be 97 – will be standing outside and we’ll see what happens. We have no intention of moving.

“My husband has the right to die in this house and I promised him as much as I can he will die in this house. A promise made is a promise kept.”

French-born Mr Thomas volunteered at RAF Uxbridge aged 17 and renounced his dual nationality to fight for Great Britain during WWII in the 161 Special Duties Squadron based at Tempsford.

He was awarded the Légion D’honneur for courage by the French government in 1991.

Armelle with her husband Tommy, pictured in 2012
Mrs Thomas said: “It’s very easy to remember the dead but not the living. My husband is a veteran who fought for this country and now he’s going to lose his home.

“It’s on his mind all the time. He’s already had a heart attack and two strokes due to pollution, noise and stress and it’s destroying the quality of life that he deserves – there isn’t one day when we don’t mention it.”

A spokesman for Heathrow said they were pleased following the announcement by the commission, and said it was a “significant milestone” for the airport.

He added that the report recognises the benefits such as 80,000 new jobs as well as the downsides.

Matt Gorman, sustainability and environment director, said: “The point of writing [the letter] was to acknowledge the uncertainty around the announcement and reassure residents potentially directly impacted that we will stay in touch – as we have done throughout this process.

“For those living close to the area who face losing their homes, we take this very seriously and have offered a very generous compensation package.

“We have offered to buy properties at 25% above market value and many local people have welcomed this.”

But Mrs Thomas says Heathrow’s claim is “rubbish” with each house being independently assessed and feels the people of Harmondsworth have been blighted by noise and pollution.

She said: “We’ve never gained from the market because we’ve always been blighted and that’s never been recognised by Heathrow Airport. So when they say that they’ve been very generous it is a lie.”

‘Insensitive’

In the letter to residents losing their home, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye, said: “The Government must now decide whether to act on this recommendation, and give policy support for a new runway to the north-west of Heathrow.

“Heathrow would then have to apply for and obtain planning consent before any new runway could be built.”

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, said: “It was very insensitive to send letters to residents within hours of the recommendation. Particularly when the Government has still to make a final decision.”

Hayes & Harlington MP John McDonnell says the Davies Commission has “absolutely failed” to take account of the “heartbreak” caused by its recommendations.

He said: “So many local families are now in the appalling situation of facing the loss of their homes and community.

“Teachers and children at our village primary schools are at risk of losing their jobs and their school places. The threat of this upheaval is devastating.”

Mr McDonnell has convened a public meeting for residents at 7.30pm on Thursday (July 9) at Heathrow Primary School, Sipson.

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/elderly-couple-vow-fight-heathrow-9604234

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