Heathrow send survey to Heathrow villagers facing potential compulsory purchase – to soften people up?
Heathrow has sent out a survey to (it appears) all the houses that would be under threat of compulsory purchase if there was a north west runway, seeming to ask about their homes etc. It could be considered hugely presumptuous for Heathrow to be mailing residents before there is even an indication from Government that there might be agreement for a runway. The very existence of the survey undermines affected Heathrow villagers, giving the impression that the runway is a done deal. The survey asks a lot of questions, as well as wanting address and email details, like: how many people live at the house, how long have you lived there; do you own or rent, and if so, from a private landlord or a local authority; and do you have other residential properties or commercial properties in an area that could be affected by the expansion of Heathrow. The intention of this survey appears to try to pick off the residents who would be keen to throw in the towel, take the money and get out. The more people sell up, take Heathrow’s offer and leave the area, the more the soul and spirit of the community is lost. Divide and rule. To help win people over, Heathrow is offering, for those whose houses could be demolished, one to one sessions with Heathrow staff to talk about it. (ie. be persuaded to take the money). The sessions can be booked by phone or email.
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It is a jaw-dropping exercise in evasive writing. What is being asked is details of people, details of their ownership if their properties and other local links, and whether English is their first language. The matter at issue is the possible compulsory purchase and demolition of at least 780 homes for a 3rd runway, and rendering perhaps 2,000 too badly affected to be liveable. Nowhere in this document is any mention of anything other than (blandly put, innocuous) residents being “affected” by Heathrow’s expansion. Talk about disingenuous, euphemistic prose …!
Local campaigners are suggesting people do not give Heathrow their personal details.
Heathrow survey copied below:
Local Community Survey
This short questionnaire is designed to help us improve the way in which we communicate with you and to make sure we providing you with the most relevant information.
We’re committed to working with local communities. To help us better understand local community concerns and the best ways to communicate with you, please complete the survey below.
This short questionnaire is designed to help us improve the way in which we communicate with you and to make sure we providing you with the most relevant information.
You should feel free to complete as much or as little of this questionnaire as you wish. We will still continue to provide all local residents with information on Heathrow’s expansion proposals.
The questionnaire gives you the option of letting us know if you are responding on behalf of all those who live at the property. This lets you provide one response on behalf of your family.
If, however, all those living at the property wish to complete the questionnaire (for example, if you live in a house share with other occupants) you should feel free to do so.
The questionnaire should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. We have provided space for you to go into more detail if you wish.
Any information you do provide will be kept completely confidential. If you have any questions about this questionnaire, and how we will use this information, then please feel free to contact us on 0800 307 7996 or at communityrelations@heathrow.com
The questions:
1. What is your home address?
You do not have to give your home address, but doing so will enable us to use the information you provide to improve the way we contact you based on the responses you provide. Any information you provide will be kept completely confidential.
Name
Building
Street etc.
2. Are you responding to this questionnaire on behalf of all occupants of the property?
3. How many occupants currently live at this address?
4. Would you like us to provide additional copies of any letters and updates we might send you?
5. How would you prefer Heathrow to provide you with updates on our proposals for the expansion of the Airport (Select all that apply)?
Post
Email
Post and Email
6. If you selected B or C, please provide you email address/addresses in the field below.
7. Do you have any specific communications preferences we should know about, such as requests for language translations or large print?
8. The following questions are related to your property ownership status. We will continue to keep all local residents updated on Heathrow’s expansion proposals, but we will also look to provide specific updates to residents based on issues that specifically concern them. This could include, for example, information about property or noise compensation schemes.
Again, you should feel free to provide as much or as little information as you wish. What description best describes your property ownership status (select one answer):
I own the property
I rent the property from a private landlord
I rent the property from the local authority
9. How many years have you lived at this address?
10. Do you or any other occupants of your property own any other residential properties in an area which you think could be affected by the proposed expansion of Heathrow?
11. If you answered yes, you can use the space below to provide the addresses of these properties and any other relevant details you would like us to know about.
12. Do you own any commercial properties in an area which you think could be affected by the proposed expansion of Heathrow?
13. If you answered yes, you can use the space below to provide the addresses of these properties and any other relevant details you would like us to know about.
14. Do you own any businesses which operate in an area which you think could be affected by the proposed expansion of Heathrow? This applies to commercial premises you may currently rent.
15. If you answered yes, you can use the space below to provide the addresses of these properties and any other relevant details you would like us to know about.
16. Proposals for the expansion of Heathrow require Government support and would then require detailed planning permission. During this significant and wide-reaching public consultation would take place around all aspects of our proposals, including our compensation offer to local residents affected by Heathrow expansion. Whilst there are important decisions still to be made around whether Heathrow is allowed to expand, we believe it is important to provide as much information as possible about how we plan to engage with local residents. Please use the space below to let us know how you would like Heathrow to communicate with you during this process, and if there are any other personal circumstances you would like us to consider.
Thank you text goes hereThank you for completing this questionnaire. (sic) If you would like to discuss any of the issues raised here then please feel free to contact us on 0800 307 7996 or by email at communityrelations@heathrow.com
http://your.heathrow.com/localcommunityinformation/local-community-survey/
For those most affected by Heathrow expansion, book a one to one session;
0800 307 7996 or email us at communityrelations@heathrow.com
@HamishPringle said on Twitter:
@AirportWatch @HACAN1 yes, a piece of behavioural economics: two-step in which agreeing to generalisation softens people up for the hard ask