Heathrow villages set for destruction get no consultation event from DfT

Residents, community representatives and local MP John McDonnell are outraged that the public consultation on the DfT’s draft National Policy Statement on expanding Heathrow does not have a public exhibition event in any of the Heathrow Villages. The villages face the prospect of being demolished to make way for the runway. Though 20 local events are planned by the DfT, in areas not far from Heathrow and affected by it, the nearest one to the Heathrow villages is in West Drayton, not easy to reach by public transport from many of the villages. Previous public consultations on Heathrow expansion have always included exhibition events for those who would lose their homes.  Local MP John McDonnell commented:  “Quite frankly the Government are having a laugh by not holding a consultation event in the Heathrow villages. My constituents face losing their homes, schools, community centre and village life if this runway goes ahead.” …“I will be organising a further series of public meetings across the constituency over the coming weeks to ensure that local people and community organisations are fully informed and are able to fully participate in the Governments consultation process. I am confident that yet again we will defeat these disastrous proposals.”
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HEATHROW VILLAGES SET FOR DESTRUCTION GET NO CONSULTATION EVENT FROM GOVERNMENT

3 February 2017

(SHE – Stop Heathrow Expansion – press release)

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Residents, community representatives and local MP John McDonnell are outraged that the public consultation on the Government’s Draft National Policy Statement on expanding Heathrow Airport does not have a public exhibition event in any of the Heathrow Villages, despite these being the areas that are set for demolition, should the project go ahead.

The Government’s sixteen-week consultation launched yesterday, but despite twenty “local” consultation events and thirteen “regional” events, none are set to take place in the villages of Harmondsworth or Longford, where the new runway would be located, or neighbouring Sipson and Harlington, which would be at the end of any new runway (1).

[West Drayton is the nearest. See map]

Previous consultations on Heathrow expansion have always included multiple events in the Heathrow villages (2).

Jackie Clark-Basten, Chair of Stop Heathrow Expansion, said: “It’s a disgrace that none a single one of the Government’s consultation events are taking place in the very place that they want to destroy.

“Residents now face having to attend an event in West Drayton, making multiple bus trips as neither Longford or Harlington have any bus links to this location.

“Previous public consultations on Heathrow expansion have always included exhibition events for those who would lose their homes.”

John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington, said: “Quite frankly the Government are having a laugh by not holding a consultation event in the Heathrow villages.

“My constituents face losing their homes, schools, community centre and village life if this runway goes ahead.

“Every consultation on airport expansion at Heathrow over the last decade has told us what we already know; that a third runway is undeliverable because of the huge air pollution, noise and climate change concerns.

“London breached its annual air pollution limit for 2017 in just 5 days. Building a third runway will only make matters worse.

“I will be organising a further series of public meetings across the constituency over the coming weeks to ensure that local people and community organisations are fully informed and are able to fully participate in the Governments consultation process.

“I am confident that yet again we will defeat these disastrous proposals.”

Roy Barwick, Harmondsworth resident, said: “I think it is completely unacceptable that the village of Harmondsworth, which will be demolished and its residents evicted, should be excluded as a venue for the consultation by the Department of Transport.”

Reasons to reject a third runway

× more than half the proposed “additional business for Britain” will be absorbed in health costs due to bronchial problems, hypertension, depression, early death and slower learning in children, caused by noise, pollution and loss of sleep.

× Improved use of other airports better supports the regions and renders a third runway at Heathrow unnecessary.

× At least 783 homes to be lost.

× another 3,750 homes to be made “unliveable” due to noise, pollution and health impacts.

× loss of community, 900-year history, relationships, family lives, memories, local services etc.

× people in the south of Hillingdon Borough die 7 years earlier than those in north Hillingdon.

× Heathrow noise pollution already impacts 3 times the number of people around Charles de Gaulle, Schiphol or Frankfurt airports and with a third runway it would be 4 times as many.

http://stopheathrowexpansion.co.uk/press-releases-1/2017/2/3/heathrow-villages-set-for-destruction-get-no-consultation-event-from-government

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Consultation information events

The DfT are also holding consultation information events. At the events you can speak to DfT officials and ask about the draft Airports National Policy Statement.

Weekday events are open from 11.00am to 8.00pm.

Saturday events are open 10.00am to 5.00pm.

DateLocationAddress
Monday 13 February 2017SouthallSt George’s Community Centre, 8-12 Lancaster Road, Southall UB1 1NW
Tuesday 14 February 2017UxbridgeUxbridge Community Centre, 32b, The Greenway, Uxbridge UB8 2PJ
Wednesday 15 February 2017KingstonKingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2EE
Thursday 16 February 2017BracknellCarnation Hall, 29 Chavey Down Road, Winkfield Row, Bracknell RG42 7PU
Friday 17 February 2017WimbledonEveryday Church, 30 Queens Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 8LR
Saturday 18 February 2017EalingEaling Town Hall, New Broadway, Ealing, London W5 2BY
Monday 20 February 2017Staines-upon-ThamesThe Hythe Centre, Thorpe Road, Staines TW18 3HD
Thursday 23 February 2017TwickenhamYork House, Richmond Road Twickenham TW1 3AA
Friday 24 February 2017PutneyPutney Leisure Centre, Dryburgh Road, London SW15 1BL
Monday 27 February 2017HounslowHounslow Civic Centre, Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 4DN
Tuesday 28 February 2017Stanwell MoorStanwell Moor Village Hall, Stanwell Moor, Staines TW19 6AQ
Wednesday 1 March 2017KensingtonKensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, Kensington, London W8 7NX
Friday 3 March 2017WindsorWindsor Youth and Community Centre, 65 Alma Road, Windsor SL4 3HD
Saturday 4 March 2017West DraytonYiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre, Harmondsworth Road, West Drayton UB7 9JL
Monday 6 March 2017HammersmithAssembly Hall, King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9JU
Tuesday 7 March 2017MaidenheadSportsable, Braywick Road, Maidenhead SL6 1BN
Friday 10 March 2017RichmondRACC, Parkshot, London TW9 2RE
Saturday 11 March 2017Gerrards CrossColston Hall, 8 East Common, Gerrards Cross SL9 7AD
Monday 13 March 2017SloughThe Curve, William Street, Slough SL1 1XY
Wednesday 15 March 2017IsleworthIsleworth Public Hall, South Street, Isleworth TW7 7BG

We are also running regional consultation information events for invited stakeholders. If you think you should have been invited, please contact us on 0800 689 4968.

  • Monday 20 March 2017, Manchester
  • Wednesday 22 March 2017, Birmingham
  • Friday 24 March 2017, Leeds
  • Monday 27 March 2017, Newcastle
  • Wednesday 29 March 2017, Edinburgh
  • Friday 31 March 2017, Glasgow
  • Monday 3 April 2017, Belfast
  • Wednesday 5 April 2017, Liverpool
  • Friday 7 April 2017, Cardiff
  • Monday 10 April 2017, Newquay
  • Wednesday 12 April 2017, Reading
  • Tuesday 18 April 2017, Brighton
  • Thursday 20 April 2017, London

If you have questions about the consultation or about your local event please call us on 0800 689 4968.

If you have comments about the consultation process, please contact the independent consultation adviser.

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Notes

(1) Full list of Government consultation events https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/heathrow-expansion-draft-airports-national-policy-statement

(2) List of public exhibitions from DfT consultation on Adding Capacity, 2007/2008. Please ask for scan.

For more information: Rob Barnstone on 07806 947050