Heathrow Government announcement

On 25 October 2016 the Government announced its support for a new runway at Heathrow. The scheme will now be taken forward in a draft ‘National Policy Statement’ for consultation.

Lord True, Leader of Richmond Council, slammed the Government’s decision, committing Richmond Council to continue to fight any expansion of the Airport.

Background

This decision comes despite overwhelming opposition from hundreds of thousands of Londoners as was shown in the 2013 referendum and legal action that overturned the decision to expand the airport in 2002.

Heathrow is already an airport that has the biggest local and environmental impact in Europe. Any expansion would result in the added risks of 260,000 extra low flying aircraft over London and the Home Counties each year, and the creation of new flightpaths over densely populated areas.

Next steps

Solicitors jointly appointed by Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth, Windsor and Maidenhead councils and Greenpeace UK are now examining the Government’s aviation announcement in detail and a legal strategy will be developed over the coming days.

Response to the announcement

 

Videos

Videos of councillors and the community responding to the Government announcement.

• Lord True
• Cllr Pamela Fleming
• Peter Willan – Richmond Heathrow Campaign
• Caroline Brock – Kew Resident
• Neil Maybin – Richmond Resident
• Neil Spurrier – Strawberry Hill Resident
• Stephen Clark – Teddington Resident