Clear message from residents at the Stop Heathrow Expansion (SHE) AGM: NO 3rd Runway

At a packed meeting in Harmondsworth, there were great contributions by local MP John McDonnell and Cait Hewitt, Deputy Director of the AEF (Aviation Environment Federation). John reiterated his certainty that the runway will not go ahead. He went through the many reasons, including air pollution, noise, carbon emissions and economics. And he emphasised the difficulties the government has with the politics, as so many constituencies are now marginal and so local issues (such as Heathrow airport impacts) would be key in a future election. John McDonnell said: “I’m into Parliamentary democracy, but I cannot allow this to happen to this area. The Government has responsibility to protect people and this project cannot happen”.  Cait Hewitt spoke about the insuperable problem of air pollution that a 3rd Heathrow runway would cause: “Government’s own recent forecasts show there is a high risk of a breach to air quality targets” … “The Government is prepared to gamble on air quality to build a third runway.” The AGM also heard about  problems of Heathrow withholding payments to those who have already sold up, and not paying all estate agent and moving costs. Residents do not trust Heathrow’s pledges on compensation payments, in the event that they were forced from their homes.
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Clear message from residents at the Stop Heathrow Expansion (SHE) AGM: NO 3rd Runway

At a packed meeting in Harmondsworth, there were great contributions by local MP John McDonnell and Cait Hewitt, Deputy Director of the AEF (Aviation Environment Federation).

John reiterated his certainty that the runway will not go ahead. He went through the many reasons, including air pollution, noise, carbon emissions and economics. And he emphasised the difficulties the government has with the politics, as so many constituencies are now marginal and so local issues (such as Heathrow airport impacts) would be key in a future election.

John McDonnell said:
“I’m into Parliamentary democracy, but I cannot allow this to happen to this area. The Government has responsibility to protect people and this project cannot happen” – and that if the runway was pushed through, he would be taking part in direct action.

John explained the crumbling case for a 3rd Runway. Whether it’s taxpayer funding, benefits to the UK, pollution and climate change – Heathrow is not the answer. “The Government wanted this wrapped up by now. The fact they are delaying just shows how uncertain they are about how the case for a 3rd runway stands up”.

Cait Hewitt spoke about the insuperable problem of air pollution that a 3rd Heathrow runway would cause: “Impacts on air quality whilst constructing a 3rd runway have not been considered. None of the modelling we have been through has assessed this major breach to local quality of life….

“Government’s own recent forecasts show there is a high risk of a breach to air quality targets” … “The Government is prepared to gamble on air quality to build a third runway.”

Cait said that it is not even as if the sacrifice of the health and well being of local people was for a development overwhelmingly beneficial to the nation. The Heathrow runway economic benefits to the UK would be tiny, and probably even NEGATIVE when all relevant costs taken into account.

The AGM also heard about the underhand practices of Heathrow locally in leafletting about compulsory purchase.  People expressed their anger at the unacceptable delays people who have sold up their homes to Heathrow have had in getting the extra 10% they were promised. The airport is keen to withhold this for as long as possible. An other case was mentioned where a family who sold to Heathrow were substantially out of pocket (many tens of thousands of ££s) as their house purchase fell through. Heathrow, though saying it will pay for estate agent costs, would not pay for the additional costs of moving, if a sale does not go through.  All in all, confirmation that Heathrow and its offers are not to be trusted. Residents who face the compulsory loss of their homes, if there was a runway, are understandably very worried.