Hillingdon Council writes to residents to ensure they know the 3rd runway is not at all certain – despite HAL propaganda

Heathrow has been telling local residents that the 3rd runway is definitely going ahead, and people should act accordingly. However, now Hillingdon Council’s Leader, Ray Puddifoot, has written to residents to let them know that is not at all true. He says: “I have been informed by a number of residents in the Heathrow Villages that Heathrow Airport Ltd. (HAL) are producing highly misleading and disingenuous propaganda regarding airport expansion that is causing unnecessary distress and  anxiety.  HAL are unashamedly frightening residents by informing them that Heathrow expansion will definitely be taking place now that the Secretary of State has taken the decision, on 26th June 2018, to designate the Airports National Policy  Statement (NPS). For the avoidance of doubt Heathrow expansion is very far from certain. The designation of the NPS is not in any way tantamount to the grant of planning permission for Heathrow expansion. Instead, it acts as an umbrella’ for an  application for a Development Consent Order to be made by HAL. I can confirm that no such application has been made. In the circumstances, I would urge you and your fellow residents not to believe anything that HAL is saying and  certainly, no steps should be taken to market any properties in Heathrow Villages.”  And it continues ….
.

The letter from Cllr Ray Puddifoot to residents : and copied below, for easier reading

Dear Resident
I have been informed by a number of residents in the Heathrow Villages that Heathrow Airport Ltd. (HAL) are producing  highly misleading and disingenuous propaganda regarding airport expansion that is causing unnecessary distress and  anxiety.
HAL are unashamedly frightening residents by informing them that Heathrow expansion will definitely be taking place  now that the Secretary of State has taken the decision, on 26th June 2018, to designate the Airports National Policy  Statement (NPS).
For the avoidance of doubt Heathrow expansion is very far from certain. The designation of the NPS is not in any way  tantamount to the grant of planning permission for Heathrow expansion. Instead, it acts as an umbrella’ for an  application for a Development Consent Order to be made by HAL. I can confirm that no such application has been  made.
In the circumstances, I would urge you and your fellow residents not to believe anything that HAL is saying and  certainly, no steps should be taken to market any properties in Heathrow Villages. There are a number of stages to be  followed in relation to the Heathrow expansion proposal and this Council is fully committed to fighting for homes and  communities by taking immediate steps to stop it before it has gained any momentum.
To this end, I have pledged that the Council, working with its partners, will seek a judicial review of the Government’s  decision to designate the NPS and it will seek an Order from the High Court to quash it.
The legal process has already commenced with a very detailed letter before action being sent to the Government’s  lawyers. It is anticipated that they will robustly defend the Governments position so the next stage in the process will  be for the Council and its partners to issue legal proceedings in the High Court in early August. A hearing is likely to  take place in October.
The Council has stopped Heathrow expansion before. You may recall that it won its previous judicial review challenge  back in 2010 and I am confident that we will win again. Even if the High Court does not find in our favour, we will  pursue appeals in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court which is the highest Court in the land.
In conclusion HAL have not secured the necessary permission to build a third runway and that is a fact. Based on  current evidence there is little chance of that changing and the Council will continue to protect the environment and  the health and wellbeing of its residents.
Yours faithfully
Cllr Ray Puddifoot MBE
Leader of the Council