The local Liberal Democrat team has responded to Heathrow's latest consultation on its airspace design and future operations. The proposals would enable Heathrow to add an extra 25,000 flights each year, or 68 more flights a day. The Lib Dem's response to this consultation is below.
We are concerned that some communities, including parts of Putney, could be 'overflown' for the first time since they are positioned under the proposed new flightpaths. However, despite the enormous technical detail in the consultation documents and on the consultation website, there is little clarity on exactly how Putney would be affected. The Liberal Democrats call on Heathrow to explain directly and specifically to local communities what these proposals would mean for them.
Liberal Democrats have campaigned against Heathrow expansion, at a national level as well as through local parties, for more than 40 years. We think it is an unworkable folly which will do huge damage to the environment as well as disturb the health and well-being of residents. For example, in the 1980s the Lib Dems in Richmond won the campaign to reduce noise by getting aeroplanes to alternative between runways. The party subsequently succeeded in its fight to keep night flights to a minimum, restricting the number of movements permitted until 2017.
No.
In addition to objecting to the specifics contained within the proposals, we object to the underlying principles of this expansion project.
The proposals would enable Heathrow to increase the number of flights by an estimated 25,000 per year. This would exacerbate the damage done to people’s health by aircraft noise and pollution and contradict the UK’s anti-climate change objectives. That is why we call for night flights to be stopped, a ban on aircraft landing at night with older or nosier engines and longer, predictable respite periods to be provided.
It is simply not sustainable to expand a hub airport in the midst of one of the most densely populated areas in the country. Instead of expanding operations and merely seeking to “minimise impacts for local communities”, we think Heathrow should be thinking again about its plans.
In addition, we urge Heathrow to explain clearly and directly to our community what would be the expected impacts of its proposals. There are some communities, including parts of Putney, that would be new ‘overflown’ and would be stung by noise, pollution and disturbance from Heathrow flights for the first time. The lack of precise flight paths in this consultation materials does not provide the information we need.