PRESS RELEASE
for immediate use
Kew Gardens Stays Silent on Heathrow Expansion
at a time key BAA and BA figures play a leading role in its management
Pressure Group HACAN ClearSkies has revealed that leading figures from BAA, the owner of Heathrow Airport, and British Airways have got themselves key roles in the management of Kew Gardens, the world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens which lie directly under the flight path, just months before the Government is due to reveal its plans for a big increase of flights over the Gardens. Marcus Agius, the Chairman of BAA, has a key fundraising role for Kew as the Chairman of the Foundation and Friends of Kew. Andrew Cahn, the Director of Government and Industry Affairs at British Airways, sits on Kew’s Board of Trustees.
Kew Gardens has consistently refused to speak out against the expansion of Heathrow. If the Government goes ahead with plans to abolish runway alternation, Kew Gardens could be under the flight path all day long. The Department for Transport is expected to consult on its plans in March next year (1).
The role of the Foundation and Friends of Kew (2) is “to provide support for Kew by raising funds for Kew’s activities”, according to the Kew Garden’s annual report. The report admits that “financial support through bequests from Friends is becoming an increasingly important source of income.”
HACAN Chair John Stewart said, “We are very suspicious about the motives of Marcus Agius and Andrew Cahn. Have they wormed themselves into key positions in order to make sure that Kew Gardens is not critical of plans to expand Heathrow? Certainly, local people are in despair about Kew’s refusal to speak out.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). At present aircraft landing over West London use one runway until 3pm before switching to the other one in order to give people some relief from the noise. Kew Gardens benefits from this. But the Department for Transport is expected put out proposals to public consultation in March 2006 to end runway alternation.
(2). The Kew Gardens 2005 Annual Report describes the Foundation and Friends thus: “The Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a registered charity (registration no. 803428) which is independently administered. Its purpose is to provide support for Kew by raising funds for Kew’s activities.” Its membership exceeds 64,000.
For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 641 or 07957385650
Press Release dated 16/08/05