Legal proceedings against Heathrow expansion begin – groups against the 3rd runway welcome “decisive action”
Plans for Heathrow expansion will meet their first legal test on Thursday 4th October, as claimants against the proposals seek to proceed their cases to full judicial review. Five parties have lodged judicial review claims against the plans including a consortium of 5 local authorities with Greenpeace and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Also Heathrow Hub Limited (promoters of a rival scheme to expand Heathrow), and Friends of the Earth. Also Plan B and a Twickenham resident, Neil Spurrier. The claims are against the Government’s National Policy Statement (NPS) – which only included Heathrow expansion – which Parliament voted on in June 2018, despite many unanswered questions about the projects legality and wider environmental impact. Paul McGuinness, Chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said: “Having ignored evidence, such as the report of parliament’s Transport Select Committee, the decision to expand Heathrow was always going to end up in the courts, under judicial review …” Government lawyers have conceded that all applicants are likely to get permission to proceed with their applications for JR, they are unlikely to oppose the granting of permissions at this pre-trial hearing.
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Legal proceedings against Heathrow expansion begin
COALITION OF ANTI-HEATHROW EXPANSION GROUPS WELCOME ‘DECISIVE ACTION’
3rd October 2018 (No 3rd Runway Coalition)
Plans for Heathrow expansion will meet their first legal test on Thursday as claimants against the proposals seek to proceed their cases to full judicial review (1).
Five parties have lodged judicial review claims against the plans (1), including:
- A consortium of local authorities (Hillingdon, Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead), Greenpeace and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
- Heathrow Hub Limited (promoters of a rival scheme to expand Heathrow)
- Friends of the Earth
- Plan B, an environmental justice organisation
- Neil Spurrier – a resident of Twickenham, Middlesex
The claims are against the Government’s National Policy Statement – which only included Heathrow expansion – which Parliament voted on in June 2018, despite many unanswered questions about the projects legality and wider environmental impact (2).
Campaigners, residents and politicians, including John McDonnell MP, will be holding a lively ‘solidarity event’ outside the High Court from 9am on Thursday (3).
The No 3rd Runway Coalition, whose membership comprises a number of claimants (3), welcomed the process and warned that the process was now underway, with the chance to highlight the severe negative impacts the project would have.
Paul McGuinness, Chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said:
“The legal actions against the government’s decision to expand Heathrow is supported by a very large number of communities, who firmly believe that the negative environmental impact of this highly disruptive airport should not be allowed to grow.
“Having ignored evidence, such as the report of parliament’s Transport Select Committee, the decision to expand Heathrow was always going to end up in the courts, under judicial review, and we are delighted that the process has now started and welcome this decisive action by a number of parties.”
It is envisaged that the issues raised by the claimants (relating primarily to environmental impacts, and the ignoring or withholding of evidence in the decision-making process) will be heard in March 2019.
ENDS.
Notes:
- Briefing on the legal action against the NPS here NPS Judicial Review briefing 3.10.2018 including background details of those who have launched action.
- On 4 October, a pre-trial hearing will be held, to determine which claims for Judicial Review of the government’s Airports National Statement (NPS) are to be heard. Despite its title, the government’s NPS solely concerns the expansion of Heathrow Airport from two runways to three.
- Members of the No 3rdRunway Coalition include five local authorities, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, who have all lodged claimshttps://www.no3rdrunwaycoalition.co.uk/members.
- Campaigners, politicians and residents will be gathering outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand, London, from 9am on Thursday. Campaigners will be available for interview throughout the day.
- Government lawyers have already conceded that all applicants are likely to get permission to proceed with their applications for Judicial Review of the government’s National Policy Statement, so are unlikely to oppose the granting of permissions at this pre-trial hearing.
For more information, including media interview requests, contact:
Rob Barnstone,Coordinator | No 3rd Runway Coalition
07806 947050 or Robert.barnstone@outlook.com
@NoR3Coalition | www.no3rdrunwaycoalition.co.uk
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