This is not a done deal

2:59pm Thursday 6th December 2007

On Thursday, November 28 the Government announced the start of the consultation for the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

I was at both the Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 planning inquiries where our community was assured by the inquiry inspectors, BAA and Government ministers that each development would be the last piece of expansion of the airport because of its ever-increasing noise and air pollution.

BAA promised that if it was allowed to build Terminal 5 it would not require or ask for a third runway. A Government transport minister even announced a cap on the number of aircraft movements at Heathrow.

Within months of gaining permission for T5, BAA was lobbying for a third runway. It was forced to admit that this meant a sixth terminal.

We have witnessed broken promise after broken promise.

These new proposals are horrifying and go well beyond the plans set out in the original aviation white paper. It would mean a virtual doubling of the number of flights, resulting in the increase in air and noise pollution. This flies in the face of the Prime Minister's promises to tackle climate change.

These proposals would mean doubling the size of the airport forcing up to 10,000 people from their homes and the destruction of whole communities. Sipson village will disappear completely. Those just outside the proposed airport boundary will not qualify for compensation or assistance. They are deemed by the Government and BAA as "not affected" by the expansion. They will be left in an environmental hell.

The Government/aviation industry coalition is confident that it can fix the consultation process and use the proposed new planning laws to force through Heathrow expansion. I believe it is fundamentally mistaken. Heathrow is set to become the iconic site in Europe upon which the most significant fight against climate change will be fought.

The campaign against the expansion is growing day by day as people, organisations and local authorities realise the horror of this proposal and how they will be affected. Make no mistake, there is no other option but to fight. This is not a done deal.

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