We dont want to live under another Heathrow flight path say West Londoners

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
13/02/2008

Local residents have their say over Heathrow expansion plans

Hundreds of protesters turned out at Hammersmith town hall to shoot down government plans for uncontrolled expansion at Heathrow Airport.

The majority of angry residents say the airport noise hell plan, that will be made worse by an extra runway at Heathrow, must be torn up before it’s too late.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council hosted the meeting for furious West Londoners after the Department for Transport (DfT) refused to face local people themselves. In fact the DfT even refused to write to all residents in Hammersmith & Fulham until a timely intervention by the leader of the council forced the Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, into an uncomfortable climb-down.

Councillor Nick Botterill, H&F Council Deputy Leader, opened the meeting. He said, “It was outrageous that the whole borough was denied the chance to have their say given the number of people here tonight. That is why we arranged this meeting to ensure that the views of the people who will suffer most from Heathrow expansion are aired.”

In a heated question and answer session speakers from the estimated 700 strong audience, 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.

Nic Ferriday, from HACAN Clearskies, said, “We are yet to hear an evidence based economic argument for further Heathrow expansion and even if the airport lobby come up with one the damage to people’s daily lives, as well as the adverse environmental impacts, is a price we cannot afford.

“Most similar expanding airports are not in the middle of a major conurbation,” he added.

The audience heard how the Department for Transport plans to allow 222,000 additional flights at Heathrow Airport each year by adding a third runway and relaxing flying restrictions. And despite the clear opposition to the further expansion of Heathrow, BAA has refused to promise that the current Heathrow expansion proposals will be the last. 

Lord Soley, Campaign Director of Future Heathrow, argued in favour of the expansion although he admitted, “I expect most people are here because they disagree with me and because they are worried about aircraft noise pollution.”
Lord Soley’s view seemed to be verified when statistics compiled by council officers proved that of the almost 4,000 residents who returned the forms sent out by the council 93 per cent were against expansion. 6 per cent were in favour and 1 per cent undecided.

Councillor Botterill, concluded, “We have done the DfT’s job for them and asked residents what they think. We are clear that the arguments put forward for uncontrolled expansion of Heathrow are shaky at best. Residents in Hammersmith & Fulham have made their views known and if the Aviation Minister still refuses to listen I will personally knock on his door to let him know these views, whether he likes it or not.”

To have your say on the Heathrow expansion click on www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation. The consultation ends on February 27.
 
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