Third Runway Could Mean An Extra 700 Daily Planes

Local anti-airport expansion group BASHR3 marks anniversary of Heathrow decision

Brentford group campaigning against a third runway for Heathrow BASHR3 planted red planes in Osterley Park on Wednesday.

The event was to mark the first anniversary of the government's decision to "accept the recommendation of the Airports Commission" to expand Heathrow.

A total of 700 model planes were planted in public places around London and beyond, to highlight the 700 extra daily flights that would overfly communities were Heathrow to expand.

The action was organised by the No 3rd Runway Coalition, of which BASH (Brentford & Hounslow Stop Heathrow Expansion) is a member. BASH planted planes in Osterley Park, a National Trust beauty spot which would be severely affected by the new flight path.

Dave Waller, BASH co-ordinator, said:

"Like so many other communities across London, there is deep and heartfelt opposition in Hounslow to any further expansion of Heathrow. 700 extra flights each day can only bring more misery to the hundreds of thousands of Londoners living under current flightpaths, as well as new misery to communities overflown for the first time".

Other groups in the No Third Runway coalition planted red planes in parks across the city, including in Ealing, Hammersmith, Teddington, Harmondsworth, Sipson, and Kennington.

The events come as the Government prepares to launch a further round of public consultations on the proposal, this time on Air Quality and updated Passenger Number Forecasts.

Were the proposal to secure parliamentary backing - far from certain with many Conservative MPs implacably opposed (including Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson and Education Secretary, Justine Greening) and Labour now indicating opposition - a coalition of London Councils have promised to challenge the proposal in the courts

Paul McGuinness, Chair of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, said:

"We're a fast growing movement, made up of communities and councils who are all horrified that this already highly disruptive airport could be expanded, quite knowingly, over the most densely populated residential region in the country. And horrified that the government has even considered succumbing to the shameless, no expenses spared browbeating of Heathrow, as the airport pursues its own narrow, financial self interest."

October 26, 2017

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