Residents await reaction of local MPs Justine Greening and Zac Goldsmith


image: Ian Wylie

The third runway at Heathrow has been given the go ahead by a cabinet committee according to the BBC who are reporting this has been confirmed by a government source. An official announcement on the decision is due to be made later today.

The decision was not made by a full cabinet but by a sub-committee and MPs will not be voting on the matter for over a year. With the Foreign Secretary and Putney MP Justine Greening the Education Secretary opposed to the expansion of Heathrow, the Prime Minister has departed from protocol by allowing Cabinet Ministers to voice their personal views. They are forbidden from criticising the process by which the decision is made.

The question for many Putney residents is will their MP resign over the decision? We have asked for reaction from both Ms Greening and Zac Goldsmith who has threatened to resign if Heathrow gets the green light.

Local resident Nicholas Evans posted his reaction on the putney forum calling for Ms greening to resign immediately.


Putney residents responds to news

Pressure groups do not see this as the end of the but the start of legal challenges to the decision. HACAN chair John Stewart said:
“Real doubts must remain whether this new runway will ever see the light of day. The hurdles it faces remain: costs, noise, air pollution and widespread opposition including an expected legal challenge from the local authorities.”

Stewart added: “As expected, permission for a new runway has been made dependent on certain legal conditions being met. HACAN will fight for the implementation of these measures whether we get a third runway or Heathrow ultimately remains a two runway airport.”

Robert Barnstone, Campaign Co-Ordinator, Stop Heathrow Expansion, said:
“The years of uncertainty that lie ahead while Heathrow is challenged in the courts brings yet more blight and worry to thousands of people. The fight is only just beginning. Like last time, we will see the Government in court and see off this threat, this time for good."

The National Policy Statement (NPS) on Aviation will be put to parliament in winter 2017/18. Assuming the NPS is approved by parliament Heathrow will then be required to draw up an Environmental Impact Assessment to form part of its detailed proposals for a new runway which will need to go to a Planning Inquiry. The completion of this process on schedule would mean that construction on the runway would start in 2020 or 2021.

This morning (25 October), 40 Activists including members of Plane Stupid and Reclaim the Power locked together using ‘arm tubes’ on a mock runway outside Parliament to signal their intent to continue fighting airport expansion. Air traffic controllers with “STOP” paddles lined the runway. Other campaigners and local residents held a banner reading “Climate Change Kills, No New Runways.”


Anti-airport expansion campaigners outside Westminster today

Shona Kealey spokesperson for Plane Stupid, said:
"..with today’s announcement, our government proclaims to the world that we’re a dishonest and unreliable nation who can’t be trusted to keep to our international agreements or even follow our own laws, just as we’re about to renegotiate trade agreements with the whole world. Obedience to this government is suicide. If they think we’re going to quietly follow them over the cliff, they’re dreaming."

A new direct action network Rising Up is expected to announce escalating direct action against airport expansion following the government announcement.

October 25, 2016