Press Release

19/10/15 for immediate use

 Heathrow campaigners park plane outside Downing St to mark 6^th anniversary of Prime Ministers ‘No ifs, no buts, no 3^rd runway’ speech

To mark the 6^th anniversary of David Cameron’s speech where he promised ‘No ifs; no buts; there will be no third runway’ Heathrow campaigners parked a plane outside Downing Street this morning .

On 19^th October 2006 David Cameron, then leader of the opposition, made his now famous promise in a speech at a rally in Christ School in Richmond (2).  When the Coalition Government came to power in 2010 it ruled out any new runways for the duration of that Parliament.  But in 2012 it set up the Airports Commission, under Sir Howard Davies, to look at the case for new runways.

In July of this year the Commission recommended a third runway at Heathrow.  The Prime Minister is expected to announce before the end of the year whether he accepts that decision.

Margaret Thorburn, spokesperson for the campaigners said, “Today’s colourful stunt is a visible reminder to David Cameron of the promise he made on this day six years ago.  If he breaks it, he will not be forgiven by tens of thousands of people in and around London and countless environmentalists across the country.”

ENDS

 Notes for Editors:

 (2). Report of the original speech

http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/4694685.David_Cameron___No_third_runway___no_ifs__no_buts_/

Press Release

 15/9/15 embargoed until Wed, Sep 16, 00:01  

 Heathrow Airport rapped over expansion ad by Advertising Standards AuthorityHeathrow Airport has been rapped over the knuckles by the Advertising Standards Authority over a prominent advert it used to promote expansion of the airport (1).  Eight complainants challenged that the ad saying it was misleading , with its claim  that  ‘50% of local people’ were in favour of the airport’s expansion and featuring the text ‘those living around us are behind us’. The complaints have been upheld upheld, with the ads forbidden from appearing again in their current form.

John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN, which opposes the expansion of Heathrow, said, “This judgment is not good news for Heathrow.    It undermines a key plank of their campaign that they have strong local support for a third runway.”

ENDS

 Notes for Editors

 (1). The ASA will publish its decision on Wednesday 16^th September:  www.asa.org.uk

For further details:

John Stewart on 0207 737 6641; 07957385650

Matt Wilson , Advertising Standards Authority , 020 7494 2122

Press Release

 9/9/15 for immediate use

 Heathrow Poll Shows Support for 3^rd Runway Static

Heathrow Airport today published a poll which shows that support for a third runway remains static (1).  Around 50% support expansion, with 34% opposed to it.  This is very similar to the findings of a poll they released at the beginning of the year (2).  A third of people continue to oppose expansion.  In fact the figures have changed little over the past decade (3).

John Stewart, the chair of HACAN, the campaign group which opposes expansion, “In their heart of hearts Heathrow must be disappointed with these results.  Despite the millions they have spent on advertising, the polls have not moved.  Indeed the Government, which is considering whether to give the green light to a third runway, might be more interested in the numbers which continue to oppose expansion.  Hundreds of thousands of people do not want a third runway.  That is formidable opposition.

 ENDS

 Notes for Editors

 (1). The latest poll: http://www.populus.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Heathrow_Jul+Aug15PressSet.pdf

(2). The January 2015 poll: http://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/details/81/Expansion-News-23/4363

(3). The 2007 poll:  http://hacan.org.uk/blog/?p=281

For further information:

John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650

Press Release

2/9/15 for immediate use

 HACAN backs cross-party campaign against 3^rd Runway 

HACAN, which provides a voice for residents under the Heathrow flight paths, has given its backing to a cross-party campaign launched today to stop a third runway at Heathrow.

The Coalition Against Heathrow Expansion includes the Mayor of London, Conservative MPs Zac Goldsmith, Adam Afriyie and Tania Mathias, Labour MPs John McDonnell, Ruth Cadbury, Andy Slaughter and Kate Hoey as well as five councils and campaign groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.

The campaign will be delivering over 1.6m flyers across London and the South East to people who could be impacted by a third runway.  It is also organising a mass rally in Central London on October 10th

HACAN Chair John Stewart, who will be fronting the rally, said, “This leaflet drop and rally is the biggest effort ever by opponents of Heathrow expansion.  It shows that, despite the recommendation of the Airports Commission that a third runway goes ahead, we are confident that we can bury the proposal once and for all.”

Later this year the Government will decide whether to endorse the Airports Commission’s recommendation of a third runway or to go for another solution.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor:

• Coalition Against Heathrow Expansion Website: http://www.no3rdrunway.co.uk

.Link to example flyer: http://www.zacgoldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Heathrow-Flyer_Hounslow.pdf

·Members of the Coalition:
Adam Afriyie MP
Ruth Cadbury MP
Zac Goldsmith MP
Kate Hoey MP
Boris Johnson MP
Tania Mathias MP
John McDonnell MP
Andy Slaughter MP
Wandsworth Council
Hillingdon Council
Richmond Council
Kingston Council
Windsor and Maidenhead Council
HACAN
Richmond Heathrow Campaign
Teddington Action Group
Greenpeace
Friends of the Earth
Stop Heathrow Expansion
Ealing Aircraft Noise Action Group
Communities Against Increased Aircraft Noise

For more information:

John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650

Press Release

28/7/15 for immediate use

Only 13.2% of Britons Back a Third Runway at Heathrow

A Mori poll released yesterday shows that only 13% of people in the UK back a third runway at Heathrow.  Most people, 60%, want to see more airport capacity in the country but few of them want it at Heathrow.  A third of people are against any expansion at all.

Of those who favour expansion, 30% want to see a new airport, 24% support Gatwick and 22% Heathrow.  But, when those who oppose all expansion are taken into account, support for a third runway at Heathrow falls to a mere 13%.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, which opposes a third runway, said, “The politicians who back Heathrow expansion are simply out of tune with public opinion. Moreover, this independent poll shows Heathrow-commissioned polls do not tell the full story”.

Most people thought that concerns about noise and the natural environment were more important than jobs and economic growth when considering where new runway or a new airport should be built.

Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos MORI, said: “At the moment, the public’s view is dominated by concerns about environmental impact and noise rather than jobs or cost.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1.  Link to the survey: https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3606/Most-Britons-believe-airport-capacity-should-be-increased.aspx

Press Release

 23/7/15 for immediate use

 Research reveals Cabinet sub-committee on Heathrow contains leading supporters of expansion

Research by campaign group HACAN has revealed that key members of the Cabinet sub-committee appointed by David Cameron to assess the Airport Commission’s recommendation that a third runway should be built at Heathrow have been outspoken supporters of a new runway.  The revelation comes the day after the news leaked out that all cabinet critics of Heathrow expansion have been excluded from the committee.

HACAN, the residents’ group which opposes expansion, has revealed that both business secretary Sajid Javid and environment Secretary Liz Truss have backed a report that called for two new runways at Heathrow.  The 2012 report (1), published by the Free Enterprise Group founded by Truss, argued, “The government should grant planning permission for both a third and fourth runway at Heathrow. Britain’s hub airport, Heathrow is currently at 99% capacity, and London’s other airports are nearly as full”

Truss said, “”We do need a hub airport in the south-east of England.  If you want to have a hub airport three runways probably isn’t enough. If we’re imaginative about Heathrow, I don’t see why we can’t build four runways there. (2)”

Sajid Javid gave his public backing to the report the year it was published (3).

Communities Secretary Greg Clark is also a member of the sub-committee.  While he appears not to have expressed a view on Heathrow expansion, his Tunbridge Wells constituency would be impacted by a second runway at Gatwick.

HACAN chair John Stewart said, “Quite clearly David Cameron has not thought this through.  In what looks like a panic move to sideline known opponents of a third runway, he has cobbled together a committee containing some strident supporters of expansion.  He’s simply storing up trouble for the future. To exclude the foreign secretary from a decision of such international importance makes no sense at all. ”

In addition to foreign secretary Philip Hammond, also excluded from the committee are Theresa May, Theresa Villiers, Justine Greening, Greg Hands and Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister is expected to make an announcement on airports in November followed by a period of consultation.

ENDS

 Notes for Editors:

 (1). http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2012/08/30/feature-britain-s-elusive-aviation-strategy

2). http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2014/07/15/liz-truss-a-not-very-green-environment-secretary

(3),  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/08/tory-mps-press-george-osborne-runways-heathrow

Press Release

Monday 20^th July for immediate use

 The Case Against Heathrow Expansion

On 20^th July, the day before Parliament broke for its summer recess, campaigners from national organizations and local groups opposed to expansion  packed David Cameron’s suitcase with material they believe he should read and view on his holiday before he makes up his mind on a third runway.  They were joined by the new Twickenham MP Tania Mathias and the veteran opponent of Heathrow expansion, Baroness Jenny Tonge.

Items packed into the suitcase included Heat, a climate change book by George Monbiot, a video showing Harmondsworth, the village facing destruction if a third runway goes ahead and The Transition Handbook.  HACAN, the campaign body which had organized the event outside Parliament, donated Why Noise Matters.

Represented at the event were campaigners from Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Campaign for Better Transport, AirportWatch, the Aviation Environment Federation, HACAN, Stop Heathrow Expansion, the Richmond Heathrow Campaign, Ealing Noise Action Group and CAIAN (which represents many communities west of the airport).

HACAN chair John Stewart said, “This diverse range of groups gives a flavour of the formidable opposition David Cameron will face if he gives the green light to a third runway.”

ENDS