London councils: Heathrow expansion plans must be grounded » Environment » 24dash.com

Plans to expand Heathrow Airport should not be allowed to get off the ground because they blatantly disregard the blight it would cause to local communities and ignore any viable alternatives to air travel.

This is the call from London Councils ahead of a debate on the airport in the House of Commons on Tuesday (11 November). The organisation, which represents all of the capital’s authorities, is opposed to any expansion of Heathrow, including the government’s proposals for a third runway and sixth terminal.

It has written to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon, calling for an urgent meeting with him to discuss its concerns about the plans. These include the ability of the local transport system to cope with the increased numbers of people predicted to use Heathrow, and the validity of the consultation process as the government has already publicly supported the need for expanding the airport

Chairman of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee, Councillor Daniel Moylan, said: “We are calling for the government’s proposals to expand Heathrow to be grounded. If they go ahead these plans will blight the lives of thousands of people living around the airport, with London receiving very little benefit in return.

“Companies and the government claim a third runway at Heathrow is vital for business, but the vast majority of the passengers who use the airport are leisure travellers, and around 30 per cent of the people flying into Heathrow are simply transferring to connecting flights and therefore bringing no economic benefit to London.

“The expansion of the airport would mean hundreds of people losing their homes and thousands of others having their lives blighted by noise and air pollution.

“Instead of expanding Heathrow, plans for high speed rail links which would reduce the demand for domestic and short haul flights need to be put back on track. This is an option the government amazingly seems to have completely disregarded.”