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RBWM Press Release 19/03/2008

Government's claims that expansion at Heathrow can be achieved without breaching air quality limits have been undermined by a report from their own environmental advisers - and the Royal Borough is calling for an urgent explanation from transport secretary Ruth Kelly.

The move follows Environment Agency (EA) criticisms of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow consultation, which echo those made by local authorities campaigning against a third runway.

Now members of the 2M Group, including the Royal Borough, want the transport secretary to make an urgent statement on the EA's findings.

Speaking on behalf of the 2M Group, Cllr David Burbage, leader of the Royal Borough, said:

"The government's own scientific advisers are telling them what local councils and other campaign groups have said all along: the figures just do not add up.

"More and more evidence is emerging of the lengths that the Department for Transport and BAA went to so they could be sure of getting the answers they wanted from these environmental tests."

The EA - the leading public body for protecting the environment - warns that the material used to justify the government's conclusions on likely nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels cannot be relied on. It says that there are arguments for postponing irreversible investment decisions in the face of uncertainty. The full report is available on the EA's website.

The key conclusion states: 'We do not think that the evidence presented is sufficiently robust to conclude that the proposed Heathrow development will not infringe the NO2 Directive, bearing in mind the uncertainties that need to be addressed. This is because the assessment of air quality pays insufficient attention to these uncertainties and to the range of possible future scenarios for issues like road traffic, meteorological variability, climate change, background air quality and atmospheric chemistry.'

The report goes on to warn: 'It is likely that worsened air quality... will result in increased morbidity and mortality impacts as well as a range of other impacts. These air quality impacts will be present irrespective of whether air quality remains within EU guidelines and are likely to be especially important given the very high population density of the SE region.'

It criticises the lack of evidence on road traffic emissions - even though the consultation claims that the air quality impact from rising numbers of vehicles will be offset by technological advances.

The agency's response, which is now being considered by the government, casts doubt on the way greenhouse gas costs are calculated in the consultation documents. It says these are subject to 'enormous uncertainty' and concludes that it is 'notable and worrying that a doubling of these costs would more or less remove the stated net benefit of expanding Heathrow.'

Cllr Burbage said: "I'm not surprised that the Environment Agency has serious doubts about the evidence used - but what really disturbs me is the thought that no-one bothered to seek its advice before.

"The government has forfeited the right to the public's trust on the expansion argument. Ruth Kelly must explain just how we have got to a position where the government's own environmental advisers did not have a say in the way these vital air and noise pollution impacts were assessed."

The council's comprehensive response to the government's recent consultation on the expansion at Heathrow has highlighted grave concerns over the lack of evidence presented in regard to air quality. Copies of the council's response can be viewed at rbwm.gov.uk

The EA report can be viewed at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ourviews/1876673/1980740/?version=1&lang=_e

Along with the Royal Borough the 2M Group comprises the London Boroughs of Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark and Wandsworth as well as Slough and South Bucks.

For more information visit 2MGroup.org.uk

Reports on the radio today, 20th March 08, claim that safety standards are sometimes ignored to squeeze the maximum frequency of landings at Heathrow. A former ATC staff member has reported an incident where aircraft were placed, in his view, dangerously close over Reading while lining up to land.

It would not surprise me given that private (profit-making) industry is constantly looking at ways to improve profitability. The disease affects us all in a variety of ways, not least in the health service, the civil service, the postal service... notice a trend here? Service?? An organisation designed to provide a service, an essential service, and one that should not have profitability as its no. 1 criteria.

RBWM 14/05/2008

The Royal Borough is one of a group of councils going to the High Court next week in a bid to win a reduction in the number of aircraft allowed to arrive at Heathrow before 6am.

Along with the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond, the council is challenging the government's night flight arrangements set in 2005 after it was discovered that many of the planes flying at this time of day had been placed in the wrong noise category. The error affected the Boeing 747-400 RR - the main type used by airlines during the night quota period at Heathrow.

Council lawyers will argue that, by declining to act on the discrepancy, the government failed in its duty to protect residents from excessive noise at night. The Transport Secretary could have amended the quota system so that the misclassified 747s were placed in the correct noise category, thus preventing them from flying into Heathrow before 6am. The airlines could then have substituted quieter aircraft or simply withdrawn these services for the early morning period.

On average there are around 16 early morning arrivals each day between 4.30 and 6am.

Cllr David Burbage, leader of the Royal Borough, said: "We are aiming to achieve some much-needed relief in the 4.30 - 6am period for our residents in the Windsor, Old Windsor, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury areas. Those aircraft types which break the rules should be grounded.

"The flaws we have unearthed should have been corrected. Instead, ministers have been content for the airlines to maintain their full quota of flights. I believe this is another example of the government turning a deaf ear to claims against the unlawful and inconsistent actions of the aviation industry."

"The current Heathrow expansion plans will bring even more early morning flights in the period just after 6am. There are currently no controls at this time of day. If we win it could mean the government having to set limits for the first time at a time of day when most people are still asleep."

The judicial review will be heard by Mr Justice Sullivan and has been set for May 20 - 22.

The challenge is also supported by Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow and Hillingdon councils and the GLA. All the councils are members of the 2M Group which opposes Heathrow expansion and campaigns to protect the quality of life for communities around the airport.

Find out more about the Heathrow campaign at the Royal Borough's website RBWM Website and at 2M Group

RBWM 14/05/2008

Campaigners opposed to Heathrow expansion will come together on Saturday May 31 to create a giant human NO - and the Royal Borough is urging local people to join the 'fun event with a serious purpose'.

A carnival procession will start from Hatton Cross tube station at 12 noon and make its way to the village of Sipson which would be destroyed by the third runway plan.

The main event will take place at Sipson Recreation Ground from 2pm until 3.30pm.

Speaking on behalf of the 2M Group, Cllr David Burbage, leader of the Royal Borough, said: "This is a fun event with a serious purpose. People opposed to further expansion will be spelling out the biggest and loudest NO to a policy that can only lead to more noise, air pollution and climate change."

The rally is being organised by the Stop Heathrow Expansion campaign, which is backed by community groups, charities, politicians and local authorities.

It will be a fun event for all the family. The main road in Sipson will be closed off and there will be stalls, food, drink and children's activities including bouncy castles and face-painting. Special buses are planned to ferry people back to the tube and rail stations.

The rally is likely to be the last event of its kind before transport secretary Ruth Kelly announces her decision on proposals for a new third runway and increased use of existing runways. More than 70,000 people have already responded to the Government's consultation on its expansion plans.

Find out more about the event at make-a-noise.org

Along with the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond, the council is challenging the government's night flight arrangements set in 2005 after it was discovered that many of the planes flying at this time of day had been placed in the wrong noise category. The error affected the Boeing 747-400 RR - the main type used by airlines during the night quota period at Heathrow.

They failed! In fact the judge ruled that the councils had wasted the court's time by resurrecting an argument that had been thorougly tested several years ago.