Runway protest set to roar (From Ealing Times)

Runway protest set to roar

11:43am Wednesday 13th December 2006

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PEOPLE in Acton could have more sleepless nights with up to 500 more flights a day planned for a new runway at Heathrow.

The runway is likely to get the go-ahead after reports stating the the Government is endorsing the proposals.

But Acton residents living under the flight path could suffer due to the huge increase in air traffic.

The new route will cut across houses and dissect Gunnersbury park before heading over central London, adversely affecting up to half a million homes in West London.

Richard Barnes, London Assembly Conservative member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said it was "dreadful news".

"I welcome what could be a rare opportunity to work with the Mayor should he be opposing what is an absolutely appalling proposal," he said.

"The people of my constituencies will be shocked to hear of this additional runway, especially as the Government promised three years ago that Stanstead, in north east London, would receive an extra runway ahead of Heathrow and in light of the extreme levels of pollution that will surely be worsened by the projected increase in capacity.

"There was universal opposition to the fifth terminal at Heathrow and I am now determined to work in defeating this unwelcome proposal, which will cause nothing but endless misery to tens of thousands of people across West London."

The Government's stamp of approval means a planning application is likely to be submitted in 2008, which could point to a new runway being operational by 2017.

This news has been met with fury by campaigners, who say the Government will face "the mother of all battles" if it gives a green light for the development.

John Stewart, chairman of campaign group HACAN ClearSkies, said: "Not only are residents and local authorities united in their opposition to it, but I can see it becoming a cause celebre for the wider environmental movement.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the Government will face direct action on a scale not seen since the protests against roads at Newbury and Twyford Down in the 1990s."

In direct response to concerns about the environmental impact of flying, Chancellor Gordon Brown announced a hike in air duties as part of his tenth pre-budget report last week.

But critics say the increases will have very little real impact on reducing emissions.

If a third runway is to be built, pollution levels around Heathrow could exceed EU limits set to come into force in 2010.

However the Government is expected to formally back the runway proposals in an announcement on Thursday.

The move to increase the number of daily flights by 500 comes after the Eddington Report recommended greater expansion in London's airports in order to maintain growth and keep London as the "premier financial centre" of Europe.

It is thought the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, will oppose the move, arguing the economic benefit does not outweigh the harm caused to the environment - a position the Government appears to disagree with.

A study into the pollution levels around Heathrow by the Department for Transport and the aviation industry is due to be published in the new year.

Nobody from BAA was available to comment.

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