|
Councillors
say no to Heathrow expansion
The
corporate resources overview and scrutiny committee (June
25) was responding to the latest consultation on airport capacity
proposals for the South East (SERAS) which closes on June
30.
DfT
figures show that expansion at Heathrow is an expensive option.
The council's and other independent studies have shown that
there are huge 'invisible' extra costs at Heathrow as well,
due to the effects of congestion, noise pollution and providing
extra houses for the employment needed. Gatwick and Stansted
both give more capacity for the costs involved in construction
while neither has the hugely damaging environmental impact
of Heathrow.
Councillors
concluded that a single runway at Gatwick would be best placed
to meet likely demand and have the least impact on the environment.
Council
leader Edward Lister said the biggest concern of local people
was increased noise:
"Aircraft
noise is a real problem for residents in Battersea, Wandsworth
and Putney. The council believes that any further runways
should be sited away from densely populated areas.
"This
is a straightforward test of the Government's loyalties. The
aviation industry represents a powerful lobby that is used
to getting its way. Ministers have to show that they are prepared
to stand up for the interest of the millions of Londoners
whose daily lives are blighted by aircraft noise……there can
be no deals. On every count - noise, air pollution, road congestion
and air safety - this cannot be allowed to go ahead. Our opposition
to a third runway at Heathrow is non negotiable."
In
a poll last year more than nine in ten local people said they
were against a third runway at Heathrow. Of more than 1,000
local residents who returned a council questionnaire 92 per
cent opposed further expansion at Heathrow.
Almost
two in three objectors (64 per cent) said aircraft noise was
their biggest concern. The next biggest issues were safety
and air pollution - given top rating by 15 percent and 11
percent respectively.
Just
under half of those responding came from Putney with a third
from Battersea and the rest mainly from central Wandsworth.
26th June 2003
Associated
article
Council urges expansion at Gatwick
& development at the Cliffe site. 10.03.2003
Sign
up for our free weekly newsletter
Comment
on this story on the forum
|