Press Release
For immediate release: 21st April 2008
Council Joins Environmental Group in Opposing Heathrow Expansion
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Brent FoE members with the leader of Brent Council Cllr Paul Lorber and Cllr Daniel Brown with ‘No to Heathrow’ banner and airplane models, Monday 21st April 5pm, Brent Town Hall.
Following a successful public meeting on Heathrow expansion organised by Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE) in February at Willesden Green Library, the campaign group are delighted to learn that Brent Council have now ‘come out’ against the proposed expansion by joining the 2M group of Councils who oppose this development.
Brent FoE heard the good news at a recent meeting with Council Directors of Environmental Health and Planning, when they were specially invited to discuss this and other issues of environmental consequence.
The 2M Group [1] is an alliance of local authorities which originally represented 2 million people concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities. The group has grown rapidly in size and now covers 3.5 million people. It includes the London Boroughs of Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark and Wandsworth, the Boroughs of Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead and South Bucks District Council.
Viv Stein, local resident and Spokesperson for Brent FoE said, “We are thrilled that Brent Council have taken this important decision to join the 2M group, thereby acknowledging the detrimental effect the Heathrow expansion would have on Brent residents and the wider environment. We also look forward to further co-operation with the Council on this and other environmental issues such as recycling and sustainability policies.”
Daniel Brown, Lib Dem Councillor and lead for Transportation and Highways, who spoke out against Heathrow at the public meeting, said, “There is a growing demand for a rethink of aviation policies on quality of life and environmental grounds and the Governments plans would lead to increases in traffic through the Borough due to the additional flights resulting in additional local pollution and not only that Alperton, Brondesbury Park, Cricklewood, Harlesden, Kensal Green, Kensal Rise, Kilburn, Mapesbury, Queens Park, Stonebridge may be under flight paths after the Government’s proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport. Brent Council under Liberal Democrat Leadership has a proud record on the environment and the Council is now to join the 2M group.”
Brent Friends of the Earth have already expressed concerns about increased noise, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and wider environmental impacts that the proposed expansion would bring, and submitted these in their response to the public consultation which ended on February 27th.
In a local poll on Heathrow expansion [2] conducted by Brent FoE in February, when75 residents of Willesden Green (47) and Queens Park (28) were surveyed, the main concerns were about associated climate change, air pollution and increased traffic on the main roads through Brent. Respondents also demanded more information about how Brent would be affected by the Government’s proposed plans. In the poll 52% of respondents said No to Heathrow, with only 18% in favour and 30% undecided. Queens Park residents were more strongly against the expansion, with over two thirds (68%) opposing it, and 42% in Willesden Green against. An overwhelming 89% felt there should be more information available for residents on how the proposed expansion would affect them.
Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions were uppermost in people’s minds with 68% very concerned about this; 66% very concerned about poorer air quality locally and resulting health problems, 61% about increased traffic going to and from the airport; over half (53%) about the destruction of villages close to Heathrow, 47% about aircraft noise, and a third (32%) about a greater risk of aircraft accident.
Ends.
For further information see:
1.2M group website
2.Brent Friends of the Earth local poll summary
3.Brent FoE’s campaign on Heathrow expansion