Heathrow Public Meeting Summary

[On the platform (from left to right), Zac Goldsmith, who has quit his Richmond Park seat in protest, Stephen Clark, deputy chair of TAG, Dr Tania Mathias, MP for Twickenham, John Stewart, chair of HACAN and Lord True, leader of Richmond Council.]

"This is our D-Day against Heathrow expansion", Tania Mathias told a packed public meeting at Teddington Baptist Church on Thursday, November 3, reminding them that D-Day in 1944 had been planned in the area. “The battle has just begun and I am absolutely confident that the third runway will not happen,” she said.

The meeting, to discuss concerns and pool ideas for action, heard about cross-party support in parliament, local councils coming together to take joint action, the work of local protest groups and the role of social media.

John Stewart

John Stewart, chair of HACAN (the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise) and one of the most experienced campaigners, said the government may have given the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow as recommended by the Airports Commission but it faces huge hurdles, with final permission unlikely to be granted before 2020. There is time to challenge the decision in the courts, he emphasised, and he set out the detailed timetable (see Countdown to Take-off).

Next year is key as the government starts consultation on the National Policy Statement on Aviation which examines the justification for the third runway in a national context and its regional effects. The grounds for opposition are numerous, he said. As well as the arguments that HACAN and others have successfully advanced since the 1990s, the figures produced by the Airports Commission on Heathrow’s supposed economic benefits over Gatwick are already unravelling, while evidence of the environmental and social damage of aircraft noise and air pollution are growing daily. Also, the long-term issue of climate change must not be forgotten.

He was encouraged that media reporting had emphasised the uncertainty surrounding the project and added that the increasing power of social media presented Heathrow with a challenge it had not faced before and was investing a lot of money in them.

Stephen Clark

Stephen Clark, deputy chair of the Teddington Action Group, told the meeting that TAG will engage with the consultation next year and is bringing a legal challenge to block the government’s decision. It has already issued a preliminary letter to the government on the basis the appointment of Sir Howard Davies as chair of the independent Airports Commission gave rise to apparent and presumed bias. In particular at the time he was chosen for the role he was a paid adviser to one of Heathrow's shareholders.

Mr Clark said TAG was formed in 2014, when Heathrow started experimenting with new flight paths over Teddington, which prompted a flood of residents’ complaints about aircraft noise. As a result, the experiment was ended early, but clearly it was part of planning for a potential Heathrow expansion. TAG has evidence that flights have increased and are flying lower, but Heathrow insists there has been no change. Regulation is very lax with no one accepting responsibility.

TAG has two main objectives:

• To stop the third runway
• To reverse the changes introduced since 2014

He asked the audience to protest everyone time they are disturbed by aircraft noise. TAG’s website has a space where you can write your complaint and it will pass on your views: www.teddingtonactiongroup.com/have-your-say

Dr Tania Mathias

Dr Mathias insisted that it is not Nimby-ism to protest because there are so many sound reasons against the third runway. Data such as TAG’s are very useful because Heathrow likes to hide behind average figures for noise and anyway only has 25 noise monitors (to be increased to 50). She drew attention to the growing scientific data against airport expansion. In particular, new medical evidence is emerging about the effects of noise and pollution on health as well as the environment.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Heathrow and the Wider Economy has produced a risk assessment on Heathrow expansion and is challenging the departments involved.  She said people do respond to proper arguments and she will be engaging with individuals who influence others, such as London MPs.

Zac Goldsmith

Zac Goldsmith also emphasised that this is a cross-party issue, which in parliament includes John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor and MP for Hayes and Harlington, and Caroline Lucas, joint leader of the Green Party. He said there has been a lazy default position in parliament and the executive in favour of Heathrow, reinforced by the “revolving door” for key personnel between the airport and Whitehall.

However, on the positive side, Labour MPs will not be whipped when the time comes to vote, nor will the Cabinet and he felt the numbers opposing Heathrow are growing, especially since the government has chosen the noisiest, most polluting, most expensive and most technically challenging option.

Lord True

Lord True, leader of Richmond Council, reported that Richmond, Hillingdon, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead councils are acting jointly to oppose the third runway and will have the resources for legal action. Importantly, the mayor, Sadiq Khan, is also opposed. Lord True pointed out that Heathrow assumes that Transport for London will pay for all the transport connections that will be necessary, in other words – Londoners. He hoped that TfL would associate itself with their action.

Like the others, he warned the meeting about the power of the Heathrow lobby and of the global capital it represents. They will try to soften us up, he said. We must not be gulled.

Countdown to Take-off

2017

• A consultation of about four months on the National Policy Statement on Aviation (NPSA).
• Consultation on the government Airspace Strategy (part of a Europe-wide move to make more efficient use of airspace).
• Transport Select Committee will consider the NPSA and government response to the consultation.

2018

• Final version of NPSA goes before parliament. If MPs vote it down, then the plan dies. If they vote in favour, then Heathrow can begin to draw up its detailed plans which will include flight paths.

2019-20

• Planning inquiry into Heathrow’s detailed proposals.

2020-21

• Final permission.

2024

• Digging begins.

What you can do right now: 1. Formally complain about every aircraft that disturbs you 2. Use theTAG website and social media to protest and tell your personal story.

Thank you to Philippa Ingram for this comprehensive write up of the meeting. The full video of the meeting will be up shortly.