Consultation on 3rd runway and Runway Alternation: December 2007.
The Government is expected to consult on plans for a 3rd runway, a 6th terminal and on its proposals to bring in more planes on the existing runways by ending runway alternation in December.
The likely timetable is:
December 2007: Publication of Project Heathrow Study into future air pollution levels around Heathrow. The Government is expected to go for the highly optimistic scenario that air pollution limits can be kept within the EU legal limits due to a mix of cleaner planes and controls on car traffic around the airport even with a third runway and more use of the existing runways in place.
December 2007: Consultation on a 3rd runway, 6th terminal and proposals to end runway alternation, the practice whereby planes currently landing over West London switch runways at 3pm to allow residents a half day’s peace and quiet).
March 2008: Consultation period ends.
March 2008: Terminal 5 set to open at Heathrow. This will provide the extra terminal capacity to allow BAA to bring in extra planes on the existing runways.
Summer 2008: Government announces its decision on 3rd runway and runway alternation.
If the Government gives an in principle go-ahead for expansion, it will then be up to the owner of Heathrow Airport, BAA Ferrovial, to bring forward detailed plans.
Coalition launched to oppose Heathrow expansion.
The biggest-ever coalition against Heathrow expansion was launched in late October. It brings together residents’ groups, local authorities, national environmental organisations and politicians. Check out the details on its campaign website.
Opposition to expansion grows
Never before has there been such opposition to the expansion of Heathrow. Local campaign groups such as HACAN and NOTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) have been joined by the local authorities under the umbrella 2M, the London Assembly, the Mayor of London, most of the area’s MPs as well as national environmental organisations, environmentalists from the Climate Camp and the direct action organisation, Plane Stupid. The Liberal Democrats and the Green Party are both opposed. The Conservatives are yet to make up their minds but have come out with a discussion document which is looking to move their national policy in a greener direction.
Publication of Government Noise Study confirms noise climate is getting worse
The Government reluctantly published its long-awaited national study into aircraft noise on 2nd November. The ANASE Study was commissioned in 2001. It found that 10 times as many people are affected by aircraft noise than the Government previously admitted. It found that communities start to get annoyed when the noise averages out over the day at 50 decibels rather than 57 decibels. In London and the Home Counties, this means that aircraft noise from Heathrow planes can be a problem as far as 25 miles from the airport — just as residents have been saying for the last 10 years and more! The previous noise study, ANIS, was published in 1985.