Campaign To Stop Heathrow Expansion Goes On-line

Petition against environmentally unfriendly plans receives wide-spread support

Thousands of angry residents are expected to bombard the Prime Minister with email signatures opposing airport expansion, thanks to an online petition started by resident Veran Patel.

Two million West London residents will have their quality of living reduced if Heathrow Airport is expanded according to campaigning group HACAN who state that the expansion is against Government targets for curbing all forms of pollution and will intensify locally the increase in carbon emissions.

Cllr Reid, Lead Member for Aviation, was among the first people to put her name to an online petition to Number 10 and now she is calling on her fellow residents to do the same.

She said, “Everyone knows that the Government’s plans for Heathrow will mean more planes, more noise and more pollution. We need to do everything we can to let the Government know that people living in the Borough of Hounslow will not tolerate any more expansion.”

The petition is featured on a new website designed to help people make their views known to the Government. It highlights the fact that some two million people will have their quality of life reduced if Heathrow is expanded.

Earlier this year, the website made front page news when over 1.5 million people signed a petition against road pricing. On a more local note, a petition started by ChiswickW4.com member Gareth Thomas to get the Piccadilly Line to stop at Turnham Green Station currently stands at 1,892 signatures. Campaigners are hoping that the Government’s controversial plans to increase Heathrow’s capacity by 50% in the next ten years will prove to be equally unpopular with local residents.

To register opposition to plans to expand Heathrow by runway alternation with mixed mode and building a third runway, visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/HeathrowRunway/. Deadline for signatures is 7th April.

March 1, 2007