Over 40 Leading Politicians Set To Address Night Flights Rally
Publication date: 17 October 2005
Monday 24th October Central Halls, Westminster 7.00 — 8.30pm
Over 40 politicians from all political parties are expected to address a major rally calling for action on night flights to be held in Central London on 24th October (1).
The speakers will include Shadow Transport Secretary Alan Duncan and Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman Tom Brake (2). The rally, organised by HACAN ClearSkies in association with the campaign groups from Stansted and Gatwick airports, comes just over a month after the Government’s consultation closed into its plans for night flights at the three airports for the period 2006 — 2012 (3).
John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, which represents residents under the Heathrow flight path, said: “This rally sends the strongest message yet to government about the need to tackle the hated night flights.”
The recent consultation on night flights proposed an extra 620 flights a year between 11.30pm and 6am at Heathrow by 2012 and a 41% increase in flights at Stansted. At Gatwick, where the Government proposed to keep the number of flights much as they are at present, local people have been enraged by the efforts of BAA and the airlines to secure an increase in flight numbers.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). The rally will be held in the media room of Central Halls, Westminster, Storey’s Gate, SW1. It will run from 7.00pm — 8.30pm. Alan Duncan will address the rally shortly after 7.00pm. Other politicians will be slotted in as and when they arrive.
(2). The full list of politicians who are expected to address the rally is:
Alan Duncan, Conservative Transport Spokesman Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson Julian Brazier, Conservative Aviation Spokesman
MPs from the Heathrow area:
Adam Afriyie, Con, Windsor
Vincent Cable, Lib Dem, Twickenham
Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem, Hornsey and Wood Green
Justine Greening, Con, Putney
Greg Hands, Con, Hammersmith & Fulham
Kate Hoey, Lab, Vauxhall
Alan Keen, Lab, Feltham & Heston
Susan Kramer, Lib Dem, Richmond Park
Martin Linton, Lab, Battersea
John McDonnell, Lab, Hayes & Harlington
John Randall, Con, Uxbridge
Andrew Slaughter, Lab, Ealing, Acton & Shepherd’s Bush
MPs from the Stansted area:
Oliver Heald, Con, NE Herts
Mark Prisk, Con, Hertford & Stortford
Brooks Newmark, Con, Braintree
Peers:
Lord Patrick Jenkin
MPs from the Gatwick area:
Peter Ainsworth, Con, East Surrey
Crispin Blunt, Con, Reigate
From the Greater London Authority:
Baroness Sally Hamwee, Lib Dem, Chair GLA
Darren Johnson, Green, Chair GLA Environment Committee
Roger Evans, Con, Chair GLA Transport Committee
Richard Barnes, Con, member for Hillingdon & Ealing
Elizabeth Howell, Con, member for Wandsworth & Merton
From the local authorities:
Representatives from the London boroughs of Hounslow, Wandsworth and Richmond will address the meeting. Also
from the district councils in the Stansted area: Uttlesford and Aintree.
(3). Every 5/6 years the Government draws up an agreement with the airlines about the number of flights permitted at the countries three ‘designated’ airports: Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. The next agreement is due to come into force in 2006 for the period between 2006 and 2012.
For further information contact:
John Stewart, Chairman, HACAN ClearSkies: T 0207 737 6641 or M 07957 385650, jdm.stewart@virgin.net
Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, Stop Stansted Expansion: M 0777 552 3091 cbarbone@mxc.co.uk
Brendon Sewill, Chairman, Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign: 01293 863 369, gacc@btconnect.com
Press Release dated 17th October 2005
