More delays at Heathrow
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
25/07/2008
Residents used to delays at Heathrow have another one to add to the list after the government put off a decision on the airport’s expansion.
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly was scheduled to give a ruling on expansion plans, including a third runway, in July, but now claims there is still work to be done in assessing consultation results.
The Department for Transport (DfT) hopes to allow 222,000 additional flights at Heathrow every year by adding a third runway and relaxing flying restrictions. But anti-expansion campaigners say a third runway will spread the noise impacts of aircraft passing overhead to previously unaffected parts of the borough. Getting rid of the system of runway alternation will also remove the half-day respite that this currently provides to Fulham residents.
Councillor Nicholas Botterill, H&F Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, says, “Last year a government report proved that people become significantly annoyed at an average noise level of 50 decibels - compared to the 57 decibels thought previously. This means that, if a third runway is built, far more residents in Hammersmith & Fulham will feel the affects of even more aircraft noise overhead.”
More than 700 residents turned up to a council organised Heathrow Summit in February. In a heated question and answer session speakers, including one resident who described himself as an ‘involuntary insomniac’, raged about aircraft noise, the increased number of night flights, air pollution and the ‘incomprehensible’ and ’techno-babble filled’ consultation document from the DfT.
Cllr Botterill continues: “The overwhelming majority of residents at our public meeting opposed uncontrolled Heathrow expansion - it shouldn’t take the Department for Transport this long to work that out from the consultation responses.”
The news of the delay in the expansion decision comes as the 2M group of local authorities published a report showing how new high speed trains could cut short haul flights. The radical vision called ‘High Speed North’ would provide a new fast link between London and Edinburgh. The first stretch from London to the Midlands would follow the M1.
Cllr Botterill added: “West Londoners do not want to live under another Heathrow flight path. If there are sensible alternatives available, the Department for Transport should be seriously considering these before heaping more misery, including more night-flights onto local residents.”
The Transport Secretary is expected to making a ruling on Heathrow expansion before the end of the year. The 2M Group is an all-party alliance of local authorities concerned at uncontrolled Heathrow expansion. The group, which took its name from the 2 million residents of the original 12 members, now represents 21 authorities with a combined population of 4.5 million people. Visit 2M at www.2MGroup.org.uk
