Government Consults Londoners On New Runway
But keeps new flightpath locations secret
Plane landing at Heathrow. Picture: Ian Wylie
The Government has launched public consultations today (3 February) on expanding Heathrow airport and changes to airspace policy – but neither of them reveal the locations of new flightpaths needed to serve a three runway airport.
The draft National Policy Statement (NPS) will aim to establish the planning policy framework with which Heathrow will have to comply in order to expand.
MP Ruth Cadbury urged local residents to get involved in the 16-week process.
She said, "If it goes ahead, the third runway will be the single most significant change to our area for a century. Having decided it will go ahead, the Government are now trying to write the noise, transport and pollution policies to fit the answer. Tens of thousands of homes in Chiswick Brentford, Osterley and Heston will be under the approach path to Heathrow, with planes overhead every 90 seconds.“
“The Government refuses to agree to retain the existing respite arrangements, so those under the existing flight paths will get more noise too. 50% more flights means 50% more traffic on our roads with the inevitable congestion and pollution. Even if more passengers go by rail, there is all the additional freight and flight servicing to take into account."
The consultation lasts for 16 weeks, and there will be two local consultation events. Community organisations will hold public meetings and Ruth will be releasing fact sheets on the implications of the Runway 3 proposals.
The Government Documents can be found here: runwayconsultation.dialoguebydesign.com/
Ruth Cadbury is also holding her own survey.
Fears have also been raised that the Government is not willing to listen to opposing views after the Department for Transport told the media today that: “The planning policy proposals [for a third runway] show this Government is not only making the big decisions but getting on with delivering them.”
In May Caroline Russell, AM, questioned the Mayor of London on airport expansion. He said he was ‘not persuaded further expansion of airports within London would be compatible with (my) aim of achieving legal limits for air quality as soon as possible’.
HACAN chair John Stewart said, “There is no way that a quarter of a million extra planes a year cannot but have a severe impact on many people’s lives. A third runway will also mean the demolition of many homes and could add to London’s air pollution problems. The Government must be even-handed in assessing the consultation and reject a third runway if, as we believe, its downsides are simply too high.”
Stewart added: “Heathrow still has considerable hurdles to overcome before a third runway can see the light of day. The Government has for the first time made permission for a new runway conditional on it serving unfashionable UK destinations for which there is a limited market and on Heathrow ensuring there will be no increase in airport related road traffic if the runway is built. These are very big asks indeed.”
February 3, 2017