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Heathrow plans 'frightening' reality as third runway proposed | Heathrow plans 'frightening' reality as third runway proposed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Plans for a possible third runway at Heathrow may not have been a surprise for local residents. | Plans for a possible third runway at Heathrow may not have been a surprise for local residents. |
But, for many of them, an announcement by the airport on Wednesday outlining three possible options that could lead to an extra 260,000 flights a year made a "frightening" situation more of a reality. | But, for many of them, an announcement by the airport on Wednesday outlining three possible options that could lead to an extra 260,000 flights a year made a "frightening" situation more of a reality. |
Heathrow has published three possible proposals for an additional runway - to the north affecting Sipson, north-west over Harmondsworth Moor and to the south west through Stanwell Moor. | Heathrow has published three possible proposals for an additional runway - to the north affecting Sipson, north-west over Harmondsworth Moor and to the south west through Stanwell Moor. |
Robert Evans, councillor for Stanwell and Stanwell Moor said: "The village gets completely destroyed under option three. | Robert Evans, councillor for Stanwell and Stanwell Moor said: "The village gets completely destroyed under option three. |
"I wasn't totally surprised because we knew these would be in the pipeline but....it's a pretty desperate situation and pretty frightening. | |
"The real problem now is the area is blighted and there will be a period of uncertainty, people will be anxious because they bought their homes and now they find the home isn't the asset they thought." | |
'Quicker and cheaper' | 'Quicker and cheaper' |
Lord True, leader of Richmond Council, said he was opposed to any expansion of Heathrow due to the impact it would have on the whole of west London. | |
"Heathrow is the wrong airport in the wrong place, putting 250,000 flights in the air in the most densely populated part of our country would be madness. | |
"This is a massive engine for noise and pollution over west London collectively and adding to it won't solve problems." | |
Heathrow said its three options were "quicker and cheaper than any rival hub option" and would increase its capacity to 740,000 flights a year, up from the current limit of 480,000 catering for 130 million passengers. | |
It said its westerly options were the most advantageous, "delivering a full-length third runway while minimising the impact on the local community from noise and compulsory house purchases". | It said its westerly options were the most advantageous, "delivering a full-length third runway while minimising the impact on the local community from noise and compulsory house purchases". |
Earlier this week Mayor of London, Boris Johnson put forward his three proposals which included building an artificial island on the Thames Estuary, a four-runway hub on the Isle of Grain or expanding Stansted Airport. | |
But he said expanding Heathrow was "crackers". | |
'A thousand cuts' | |
"Any proposal for expansion of Heathrow is politically, environmentally and socially unacceptable. | |
"There will be more pigs flying than aircraft if we are to believe the claim that three runways at Heathrow will make less noise than two. Their proposal would be a disastrous outcome for Londoners." | |
But there are those who support the plans with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry saying it is necessary for Heathrow to expand to meet demand. | |
Chief executive Colin Stanbridge said: "If you close the airport, what are you going to do about the hundred odd thousand jobs that are going to disappear? | |
"And if the airport dies by a thousand cuts because there's not enough capacity similarly it's going to have a huge economic impact not just on west London but on the whole of London and therefore the UK economy." | |
The plans will be submitted to the Davies Commission which will report back by 2015. | The plans will be submitted to the Davies Commission which will report back by 2015. |
A final decision will then be made by the government. | A final decision will then be made by the government. |