Wandsworth Council takes first step towards Heathrow legal challenge

Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead Councils, together with Greenpeace and a resident of Hillingdon, have today (17 November) sent a Judicial Review Pre-Action Protocol letter to the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling demanding he withdraws Government support for Heathrow expansion or face court action.

The letter, sent by Harrison Grant Solicitors on behalf of the claimants, gives ministers a period of 14 days in which to withdraw their decision to back a third runway, which was issued on the 25th October. If Mr Grayling fails to comply, judicial review proceedings will be commenced in the High Court, without further notice to the Government, on the basis that the Government’s approach to air quality and noise is unlawful, and that it has failed to carry out a fair and lawful consultation exercise prior to issuing its decision.

The 33 page letter sets out a comprehensive legal challenge, drawing on statute, legal precedent and promises and statements made by senior politicians confirming that the third runway would not be built.

Leader of Wandsworth Council Ravi Govindia said, “Heathrow expansion is incompatible with environmental legislation and the process leading up to this decision has been deeply flawed. Ministers have not listened to our warnings so we have no choice but to take legal action. The simple truth is that Heathrow is in the wrong place for a major airport and its location amplifies its damaging impacts to world beating levels. Expansion will make this dire situation much worse. An objective assessment from the High Court is bound to conclude that you can’t mitigate against such a bad location.”

Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said, “It’s clear that the government has greenlighted the third runway despite having no solution to the huge air and noise pollution problems it will cause. This is reckless and unlawful. Expanding Heathrow will heap more misery on hundreds of thousands of Londoners already breathing illegal air pollution, expose more people to aircraft noise, and drive carbon emissions through the roof. It will make it practically impossible for the government to comply with air pollution laws and court rulings”



November 17, 2016