Heathrow Expansion: Climate Change Betrayal.
I have set out below the press release I have sent out this morning on the Government's decision to go ahead with the expansion of Heathrow airport. This isn't just a local issue for me as a local MP, it has national and global implications because it undermines the Government's proclaimed cimmitment to tackling climate change.
Press Release
Labour MP John McDonnell accuses Government Betrayal over Heathrow Expansion Plans
Labour MP, John McDonnell, whose constituency includes Heathrow airport, has accused the Government of betrayal over its announcement today that it will back a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.
John said The Government has betrayed the communities that will be devastated by this massive expansion of Heathrow airport and betrayed all those who believed the Prime Minister’s promises this week to tackle climate change. The Government’s proposals go well beyond the plans set out in the original aviation white paper and will double the size of the airport. This will result in the forced clearance of up to 10.000 people from their homes with the demolition of whole communities, homes, schools, and churches. People feel betrayed on every count.
Betrayed because the Government promised a short runway, but they have now come forward with a full length runway with a sixth terminal wiping out even more homes and communities.
Betrayed because it has now been revealed that BAA has been allowed to dictate the Government’s drafting of the consultation paper. The credibility of the consultation document has been rendered laughable by the Government’s argument that a doubling of the size of the airport will have no impact on increasing air and noise pollution and climate change.
Betrayed because the consultation has been curtailed and fixed in advance by the Government is refusing to even have a consultation exhibition in Sipson, the very village they acknowledge will be demolished.
Betrayed because in the week Gordon Brown made his main speech on climate change his government announces an expansion of aviation which will undermine any attempt to meet emission reduction targets and is to introduce new planning legislation to prevent local people having an effective say in the planning process to determine this expansion proposal.
I warn the Government that it now faces against it the biggest environmental campaign that we have seen in our history, which will permanently destroy its environmental credentials.
Press Release
Labour MP John McDonnell accuses Government Betrayal over Heathrow Expansion Plans
Labour MP, John McDonnell, whose constituency includes Heathrow airport, has accused the Government of betrayal over its announcement today that it will back a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.
John said The Government has betrayed the communities that will be devastated by this massive expansion of Heathrow airport and betrayed all those who believed the Prime Minister’s promises this week to tackle climate change. The Government’s proposals go well beyond the plans set out in the original aviation white paper and will double the size of the airport. This will result in the forced clearance of up to 10.000 people from their homes with the demolition of whole communities, homes, schools, and churches. People feel betrayed on every count.
Betrayed because the Government promised a short runway, but they have now come forward with a full length runway with a sixth terminal wiping out even more homes and communities.
Betrayed because it has now been revealed that BAA has been allowed to dictate the Government’s drafting of the consultation paper. The credibility of the consultation document has been rendered laughable by the Government’s argument that a doubling of the size of the airport will have no impact on increasing air and noise pollution and climate change.
Betrayed because the consultation has been curtailed and fixed in advance by the Government is refusing to even have a consultation exhibition in Sipson, the very village they acknowledge will be demolished.
Betrayed because in the week Gordon Brown made his main speech on climate change his government announces an expansion of aviation which will undermine any attempt to meet emission reduction targets and is to introduce new planning legislation to prevent local people having an effective say in the planning process to determine this expansion proposal.
I warn the Government that it now faces against it the biggest environmental campaign that we have seen in our history, which will permanently destroy its environmental credentials.
posted by John at 9:01 AM
9 Comments:
Well said and best of luck with the campaign. I could not believe the arrogance and disdain of Ruth Kelly's statement in today's Guardian which have just blogged about.....shameful stuff. And they have the nerve to pose as environmentalists.
"Environment Be Damned, Oil Prices Spark Wood Sales (Update2)"...
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Are we surprised? This Government is owned lock,stock and barrel by BAA(better known as Ferrovial) and the airlines and doesn't give a damn the effect this will have on people living in West London.
Wouldn't it be nice if the measure of success wasn't the growth of London's economy but the improved quality of life of the city's inhabitants?
My feeling is that a lot of London's problems are caused by its growth. More money = more jobs = more people = more congestion = more crime etc...
Has the government factored in all these issues? Can it tell us when London will reach that critical mass where there is a balance between wealth, quality of life, efficiency of local services, etc...?
Or does London need to grow ad infinitum?
And why Heathrow? Why not Luton or Standtead?
London's airport was situated in West London when flying was for the very rich. This over-congested part of West London cannot co-exist with an ever expanding airline hub - God knows how much pollution falls into the reservoirs just under the flight path. With European Juggernauts winding their way around the M25 from Dover and back again - to expand on this is insanity.
Besides which it may well be a waste of money: with peak oil coming any day soon - perhaps we shall return to the days when flying is only for the very rich - so give us back the space the second runway is taking!!
"God knows how much pollution falls into the reservoirs just under the flight path"
Curlew
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There has been much talk in the press of local residents being in favour of expansion at Heathrow.
This comes from a report commissioned by future heathrow - a front used by BAA, BA and other firms to promote expansion at Heathrow.
Having done some digging, I can reveal that this report is not worth anything. Although it purports to be from 'local residents' these local residents include people as far away as Wandsworth and Merton! Not really surprising that a large proportion of these 'local' people are not bothered about the expansion.
This is simply inhuman. The way in which the government can ignore the suffering they will inflict on people - the very people they are meant to serve and protect - by forcing them out of their houses, away from their friends and families, and away from everything they know is just incomprehensible. New Labour makes me sick, they have no right to be in government when they care so little about the people who need their support the most. Shame on Brown and shame on New Labour. They are detestable.
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