Making a noise about Heathrow expansion

Over 50 local residents attended a public meeting on Heathrow expansion organised by Brent Friends of the Earth (FoE) on  Thursday 21st February at Willesden Green Library.  Noise was among the concerns expressed both by the speakers and in a poll  of local residents.

Sarah Teather, Lib Dem MP for Brent East, Nic Ferriday from Friends of the Earth/Heathrow Association for Control of  Aircraft, Councillor Daniel Brown, Lib Dem/Leader for Highways and Transportation and Dr Shahrar Ali, Green Party candidate  for Queen’s Park and London Assembly were on the panel to debate the issues.  Howard Whitehead, Friends of the Earth’s  Regional Co-ordinator chaired the discussion.

Sarah Teather MP said the expansion would result in one plane going over every 90 seconds, which would mean the end of people  being able to enjoy sitting out in their gardens in the summer or letting children play outside, due to increased noise and  air pollution from both aircraft and increased traffic in the Borough, and that noise has a impact on children’s learning to  read with 100,000 children being affected.  Wembley would also come under the proposed new flight path for the first time.

Daniel Brown, Lib Dem Councillor and lead for Transportation and Highways outlined that proposed new flight paths would  extend to Cricklewood, Brondesbury, Mapesbury, Kilburn, Alperton, Stonebridge, Harlesden, Kensal Rise, and Queens Park as  opposed to the areas in the south of the Borough already affected.  He added that “with no base point (for monitoring noise)  it is impossible to say how much they will go up.  I will be pressing the Council to increase its level of noise monitoring  in Brent.”

Brent Friends of the Earth have already expressed concerns about increased noise, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and  wider environmental impacts, and have been pressing the Council to clarify their position ahead of the close of the public  consultation on February 27th.

Links
Liberal Democrats
- Brent deserves a say on Heathrow expansion
- Sarah Teather joins forces with Brent FoE

However Brent Council failed to provide a public statement on their position in time for the  meeting.  The campaigners are due to meet the Council next month to discuss this and other environmental issues.

In a  poll on Heathrow expansion [1] conducted earlier this month by Brent FoE, in which 75 residents of Willesden Green (47)  and Queens Park (28) were surveyed, the results of which were presented at the public meeting, 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.




Brent Heathrow opinion poll
- survey results
- presentation