Insensitive Ad by “Back Heathrow” outside Sipson business (that 3rd runway would destroy) now removed

Heathrow lobby group, “Back Heathrow” were forced to remove an advert after it was placed outside a local business which would be destroyed if a 3rd runway were ever built. The advertisement, which appeared on Friday 27 October, proclaimed the number jobs that would be created if the airport was expanded – a highly controversial figure which even new evidence by the DfT is wildly over-estimated. [The DfT said in October 2016 that the 77,000 figure was wrong, and they recalculated the number of local jobs using a more plausible method. The number they came up with is up to 37,700 jobs. However, they continue to use the phrase “up to 77,000”, which could be considered to be highly misleading.   See link ] The poster was placed right outside the local hairdressing salon, “Hair by Jackie”. Ironically this business, like everything else in that part of Sipson, would be destroyed (Jackie would also lose her homes, as well as her business) if Heathrow was allowed to expand. So much for the jobs claims. Local campaign Stop Heathrow Expansion (SHE) believe the placing of the ad, at best, demonstrated a lack of understanding on the part of “Back Heathrow”, or else total disregard for the community and small business owners.
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Insensitive Advert by “Back Heathrow” outside Sipson business now removed

31.10.2017  (Stop Heathrow Expansion press release)

Campaign group Back Heathrow were forced to remove an advert today after it was placed outside a local business which would be destroyed if a third runway were ever built.

The advertisement, which appeared on Friday 27 October, promoted the number jobs that would be created if the airport was expanded – a highly controversial figure which even new evidence by the Department for Transport suggest is wildly over-estimated. [The DfT said in October 2016 that the 77,000 figure was wrong, and they recalculated the number of local jobs using a more plausible method. The number they came up with is up to 37,700 jobs. However, they continue to use the phrase “up to 77,000”, which could be considered to be highly misleading.   See link ]

Yet the placing of this advertisement, demonstrates a lack of understanding on the part of the campaign at best, or a total disregard for the community and small business owners at worst.

The business that this advertisement appears outside is owned by Jackie Clark, where her salon has been serving the community for the past 11 years and whose family have lived in the village for over 150 years. Clark is one of thousands, including local workers, who would be forced from the area and those remaining would face life literally metres from the end of a runway, with around 260,000 planes using it every year.

Jackie Clark, owner of Hair By Jackie salon, said: “My family and I have been part of Sipson for 150 years. To have this advert, placed outside my business, is incredibly insensitive as for me Heathrow expansion means not only loss of my home but my job and business too. That is a scary prospect for me and my young family.”

Christine Taylor from campaign group Stop Heathrow Expansion, based in the Heathrow Villages, said:“We have had many complaints from local residents over the past four days since this advert appeared. It is offensive to the who have worked so hard over many generations to make the Heathrow villages successful and vibrant communities. These adverts are not welcome in our community.

“We are very sceptical of the promises made about the number of jobs a third runway at Heathrow would create. We have Heathrow repeatedly how many new, permanent jobs were created as a result of Terminal Five yet they have refused time and time again. People will draw their own conclusions as to why they are withholding this information.”

Rob Barnstone, 07806947050 or Robert.barnstone@outlook.com

Campaign Coordinator | Stop Heathrow Expansion

@StopHeathrowExp | www.stopheathrowexpansion.co.uk