The Department for Transport (DfT) has opened a consultation on proposals to expand Heathrow. Until 25th May it seeks responses from anyone who is affected. To involve local residents, DfT is holding a series of day-long events with an exhibition and staff on hand to answer questions. Nearby events are in Hounslow Civic Centre on 27th February and Isleworth Public Hall –the last event – on 15th March.
The events are far from impartial. Their focus is very much on arguments in favour of a third runway. Exhibits suggest that the obvious problems can be resolved. Conditions e.g. on noise and pollution are promised but without detail. There is no clear information about where new flight paths will be, hence who would be newly affected. And for us in Isleworth there will be a loss of some of the respite from noise provided by alternation between the two existing runways – but no clear plan. So it’s difficult to give informed comments. Opponents of a third runway have strong arguments against the proposals but do not have the resource of a government department or Heathrow to promote them.
Information from the Department for Transport can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/heathrow-airport-expansion
Information from Richmond Council with details about all of the consultations in the area can be found here:http://www.richmond.gov.uk/home/heathrow/heathrow_consultations.htm
The Hounslow Council information can be found here: https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/news/article/140/heathrow_northwest_runway_consultation