Category: Latest news

A short report released today by campaign group HACAN claims that a third runway at Heathrow would kill off an historic opportunity to improve the noise climate for residents.

Read the report Heathrow in a Noisy League of it’s Own. 

Read the HACAN press release.

 

The London Evening Standard has revealed (6/6/13) that Heathrow Airport is now looking for a third runway south east of the airport, in the Stanwell Moor area.

Read the HACAN press release.

 

72% people in Richmond, Hillingdon and Hounslow have voted against expansion at Heathrow in polls conducted by the three London boroughs.

Over the last few weeks people have voted in official referenda carried out by Hillingdon and Richmond and, in Hounslow, completed a questionnaire sent out to every household in the borough. Hounslow also asked about attitudes to night flights. 83% of people want them to be banned.

Read the story in the Standard.

 

The Airports Commission, set up last year, to examine whether more airport capacity is needed and, if so, where will come up with a short-list of possible sites in its Interim Report at the end of the year.

It will examine these sites in more detail before producing its final report in Summer 2015, two months after the next General Election.

Details of the Airports Commission.

A number of reports have been produced trying to influence the Airports Commission and the Government. Amongst them are:

• The Transport Select Committee – predictably – comes out in favour of Heathrow expansion. Read the HACAN press release in response.
• The London Assembly comes out against expansion and Heathrow Airport rejects mixed-mode and endorses the principle of respite periods for residents.

 

2M, which represents local authorities across London and the Home Counties, has produced maps of what the flight paths of a 4 runway Heathrow – if it was ever built – would look like.

Click here for more maps

The Evening Standard broke the story.

 

In a hugely significant development Heathrow Airport (BAA as was) has said it will not be pressing for mixed-mode (planes landing on both runways throughout the day).

A Heathrow source told The Times (4/2/13):” It would be a lot of pain for not much gain,” said a Heathrow source. Heathrow confirmed its position when appearing before the Transport Committee of the London Assembly (13/2/13) It is highly unlikely that any Government would recommend mixed-mode without the support of Heathrow Airport.

For an easy-to-read explanation of mixed mode in PDF format, click here.

 

Transport Secretary Justine Greening dismissed the lobbying efforts of the aviation industry as “a pub-style debate”

To disentangle the myths from the facts in the Heathrow debate, read our latest 4-pager in PDF format:  Heathrow Expansion Myths and Facts

Speaking at the debate organized by the Evening Standard (27th June) BAA chief Willie Walsh said that, much as he would like to have seen a 3rd runway at Heathrow, he no accepts the reality that it will not happen and is planning his business accordingly.

He also said that mixed-mode at Heathrow would makes worse at the airport and opposes it.

The Evening Standard, still pushing expansion under its new editor Sarah Sands, chose to report things differently….and incorrectly.

Read the HACAN Blog: In Praise of Willie Walsh. Read the HACAN Press Release

 

There has been a high-profile campaign recently by the aviation industry arguing the UK economic will suffer if airport expansion does not take place, particularly at Heathrow.

It has been heavily featured in the Evening Standard since Sarah Sands became editor. HACAN does not believe the case stands up. This two page PDF document summarises why.

 

In a Lord’s debate (28/5/12) the Government announced it would consider the economic loss due to sleep loss when it reviews night flights later this year.

This will be the first time this has been done. The issue was first raised in a CE Delft Report published by HACAN. Welcome move.

More details of the announcement. Read the HACAN report.