Heathrow legal battle begins
Tuesday April 7, 2009
H&F Council is backing an all out legal challenge to ground plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
Six councils, backed by Transport for London (TfL) and campaign groups, lodged the bid for a Judicial Review to block airport expansion plans today (Tuesday, 7 April).
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon triggered outrage – and flew in the face of public opinion in the borough – by announcing his support for a third runway and sixth terminal on January 15. The decision was subject to a number of environmental conditions relating to noise, air quality, public transport and climate change.
The local authorities will argue that the Government failed to conduct a lawful consultation process and arrived at a decision on a half-capacity third runway, which was different to the fully-operational runway in the consultation. They will claim that this crucial change to the proposals makes the decision irrational in a number of areas including the economic case, noise, air quality and public transport impacts and the approach to climate change issues, and that Mr Hoon failed to provide adequate reasons for his decision.
Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader, says: “This is the most important quality of life issue facing our residents. The proposed Heathrow expansion is the equivalent to building a new airport the size of Gatwick in the most densely populated part of the country.
“The arguments for the third runway are based on flimsy economic arguments that do not stand much scrutiny. This is why we are supporting the Judicial Review. If the third runway is built it will introduce another flight path over Hammersmith & Fulham, disturbing even more residents with flights from early morning until late at night.”
A third runway at the airport will allow the number of flights to rocket from 480,000 to 605,000 by 2020 and potentially up to 702,000 by 2030. Residents in previously unaffected parts of the borough, like Hammersmith and parts of Shepherds Bush, could struggle with noisy night flights for the first time.
93 per cent of H&F residents said they were against expansion in a poll of more than 4,000 people last year.
Cllr Greenhalgh continues: "The Government has not provided a convincing argument to show that a third runway can be operated without breaching air pollution limits, making noise worse or creating intolerable congestion on public transport, like the Piccadilly Line.
“The story of Heathrow expansion is a 30-year catalogue of broken promises and we cannot turn a deaf ear to residents’ concerns over aircraft noise, transport congestion and pollution. This challenge demonstrates our commitment to protect residents, whose voices cannot be heard over the deafening roar of the Government’s support for these misguided expansion plans.”
If permission is granted for the Judicial Review it is unlikely that a hearing would take place until the early part of 2010.
Authorities bringing the challenge include Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead councils. All are members of the 2M Group opposed to Heathrow expansion.
For more information on 2M visit www.2MGroup.org.uk (opens new window).
