Pressure for Ruth Kelly

9:33am Thursday 17th April 2008

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CAMPAIGNERS against Heathrow Airport expansion were set to pressure the Secretary of State for Transport yesterday.

Groups including HACAN and the No Third Runway Action Group along with the 2M Group will be writing to Ruth Kelly.

They will be asking her to visit the areas where people are affected by her plans for the airport's expansion.

HACAN will be suggesting to its members they should invite Ms Kelly to spend a day and night with them so she can experience noise levels for herself.

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, said: "Ruth Kelly has mixed with aviation bosses but has not come to meet any of the residents in their homes. If she doesn't come to see us, we will go to see her."

Mr Stewart added: "We think it is entirely appropriate that this campaign is being launched on International Noise Awareness Day.

"If the Government's plans go ahead, it will mean noise all day long for many parts of west London."

At present, planes landing at the airport switch runways at 3pm so residents close by get a break from the noise. This runway alternation is to be abolished in the Government's plans.

Geraldine Nicholson, chairman of NoTRAG, said: "Ruth Kelly has so far refused to come down to meet with any of the thousands of people who will lose their homes if her expansion plans will go ahead. We will mount a ruthless campaign to find her."