2M Group Doubles As Airport Protest Spreads
following a surge in membership among London boroughs.
The most recent councils to join are Brent, Harrow, Lewisham, Southwark and Sutton. The group, which took its name from the 2 million residents of the original 12 authorities, now represents a combined population of 4 million people.
Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister, speaking on behalf of the all-party 2M group, said:
"This started as a west London campaign and has now spread to all parts of the capital. All the councils involved are trying to protect the quality of life for their residents.
"In some cases communities have become aware how the new third runway routes could affect them, in others opposition is driven by growing concern about the impact of climate change.
"We will be stepping up our call for a complete review of the airports white paper. It's time to look at the alternatives - we can't just go on giving in to BAA's demand for more runway capacity."
Sutton Council leader Sean Brennan said: "Sutton will not support sacrificing the quality of life of Londoners and ignore the huge environmental impact of further expansion on the basis of an overstated case for a third runway."
Councillor Susan Hall, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for environment services, said: "Our first duty is to protect the environment our residents live in and our conclusion is that the expansion of Heathrow is inevitably going to mean more noise overhead. We are also unconvinced by some of the more optimistic predictions about air quality and improvements in flight technology in the Department for Transport's consultation. The simple fact is if you put more aircraft over London, there is more noise and more damage to the environment."
Consultation on the Government's proposals for a third runway and increased use of existing runways closed on February 27. Transport secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to announce her decision in the early summer. The Heathrow expansion plans are equivalent to building a new airport the size of Gatwick in the most densely populated part of the country.
The 2M Group is an alliance of local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities.
The full membership comprises the London Boroughs of Brent, Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, Southwark and Wandsworth, the boroughs of Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead and South Bucks District Council.
For more information visit www.2MGroup.org.uk
April 10, 2008
