Putney MP Hosts Heathrow Public Meeting
Justine Greening will update local campaign against more aircraft noise
I wanted to update you on what I am doing on our local campaign against more
aircraft noise from Heathrow and the third runway expansion plans. I will be
holding a public meeting on Wednesday 20 February at 7pm at the
Community Church in Werter Road, Putney.
AIRSPACE AND FUTURE OPERATIONS CONSULTATION
Heathrow has published a consultation on its future operations with proposals for
how it will operate three runways at an expanded airport and plans for the
design of airspace to accommodate that, but also proposals for how to use its
two existing runways in the meantime.
The consultation asks for views on noise, respite, night flights and where flight
paths could be in the future. For the first time the geographical areas known as ‘design envelopes’ are published so residents can see which areas might be
affected although Heathrow have caveated them so it is still very unclear where
they finally will be. Frankly, there is still little detail on many of their proposals. I
am concerned that it is quite possible that areas like West Hill, Roehampton and
Southfields could be much more affected by flightpath noise in the future.
Heathrow is proposing that there could be as many as 25,000 more flights a
year – that’s 68 extra every day – even before the third runway is built. This
goes over the original cap on air traffic movements set at the time of the
Terminal 5 planning inquiry. It means that both that condition and the "no third
runway" condition would be utterly disregarded by Heathrow. More flights would
just mean more noise for our local area and, in the light of the recent drone
incidents at Gatwick and Heathrow, I believe have serious implications for public
safety, especially for those of us who live under the flight path.
Heathrowheld one consultation event in the borough in
Roehampton yesterday (30 January), however, whether or not you attend the consultation event, you can still
contribute your views in writing. You don’t have to answer each consultation
question individually – you can just provide general comments and you can also
send them to me and I'll make sure they are submitted. I’ll be going through the
documents and will contribute my own response but please do copy me in to
your own.
The consultation runs until 11.55pm on 4 March 2019. You can
respond online at www.heathrowconsultation.com, complete a feedback form
available at the exhibition events, send an email to feedback@heathrowconsultation.com or post the feedback form or write to
FREEPOST LHR AFO CONSULTATION.
AVIATION 2050: THE FUTURE OF UK AVIATION
The Department for Transport has also now published a Green Paper which
outlines proposals for a new aviation strategy. It seems back to front to take a
decision on capacity location for a third runway before a strategy is agreed. The
Green Paper proposes greater capacity, given passenger numbers are predicted
to rise by 53% over the next three decades. It seeks to establish a new decision
making framework for additional runways across the UK and assumes that a
third runway at Heathrow will be built. Any of the suggested approaches could
recommend further expansion at Heathrow and, worryingly, it specifically does
not rule out a fourth runway. The paper also sets out carbon emission targets,
proposals to manage noise impacts to reduce the impact on public health and
quality of life and plans for surface access to ensure it is more sustainable. It
also looks at airspace modernisation with new types of flight path and includes a
Passengers’ Charter.
It is important that we feed our views into this paper which will inform the UK’s
strategy on aviation until 2050. Although there are some proposals that could
mean improvements in terms of noise and air pollution, it seems likely that an
increase in the number of flights would just outweigh them. The DfT will look at
our responses with a view to publishing a White Paper in mid-2019.
The closing dates for comments is 11:45pm on 11 April 2019. You can
respond with your views online or
email AviationStrategy@dft.gov.uk or write to Aviation Strategy, Department for
Transport, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR.
DRONES RISK
The disruption before Christmas at Gatwick and Heathrow demonstrates the
challenges posed by drones. Frankly, I am very concerned about the obvious
public safety risk from having so many flights into and out of Heathrow over
such densely populated areas. Ministers are looking carefully at this area but
while it's clear that the rules and regulations must be improved, they will find it
hard to stop those who want to do harm and indeed those who are just
irresponsible by putting public safety at risk. I've asked the Secretary of State to
review the decision to give the go ahead to a third runway in the light of the
obvious risks. See
This
is a matter I will continue to pursue.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS
Alongside my recent questions in Parliament on the cap on flights to Heathrow
and on drones, I have submitted a number of FOIs over the last few months to
government departments to try to clarify some of the background on how
decisions were taken on Heathrow expansion. It has been incredibly frustrating
when some of those departments have refused to provide the information, even
if officials have identified information for release, and I am concerned that there
appears to be a tendency towards a lack of transparency. The law on Freedom of
Information should help democratically elected MPs to carry out their public
duties on behalf of their constituents and many of you have asked various
questions about the decision to expand Heathrow. I asked the Information
Commissioner’s Office to look into my concerns and she has just confirmed that
she will be investigating the DfT’s refusal in particular to provide the information
I requested.
I hope that’s a helpful update and I’ll continue to keep you informed on what I’m
doing on Heathrow. It would be great to see you at the public meeting on 20th
February.
Best wishes,
Justine Greening MP
January 31, 2019