Government Announcement on Heathrow

On Thursday 15^th January 2009, the UK's Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon finally made the Governments's long-anticipated statement on the future of Heathrow. This followed several delays, and press reports that several government ministers - as well as many government members of parliament and both main opposition parties - opposed expansion of the airport.

(1) A new third runway and sixth terminal will be built at Heathrow.

(2) Mixed mode will not be introduced, and runway alternation will be retained.

(3) The Cranford Agreement will be scrapped, allowing planes to take off from the northern runway towards the east for the first time.

(4) Options for a high speed rail link from London to Scotland will be considered, including an international rail hub just north of Heathrow.

More details can be found on our proposals page.

How the proposals
will affect Richmond

• The decision not to introduce mixed mode will benefit Richmond, but if - as seems likely - the third runway is never built, this decision may be reversed.
• Ending the Cranford Agreement will result in a new take-off path over Richmond, as the northern runway starts being used for easterly take-offs for the first time.
• The third runway may also result in yet more take-offs over Richmond for planes heading southwards.
• The third runway will result in a higher proportion of heavier, noisier planes passing over Richmond.
• The proposed increase in the number of flights will lead to greater pressure for night and early morning flights with heavier planes routed over Richmond.
• The proposed increase in the number of flights will also lead to greater traffic congestion and pollution in west London.

Richmond will continue to oppose Heathrow expansion

• We believe that expansion of Heathrow is principally for the benefit of the airport operator and some airlines, at the cost to everyone else of greater noise, congestion, pollution and risk.
• The proposals will still result in more noise and congestion for Richmond and the whole of west London and so we will continue to oppose them.
• We are not reassured by Government commitments on aircraft movements. Many Heathrow promises have been broken in the past.
• We are not reassured by the Government's promises to limit noise levels. In formulating limits they are likely to ignore their own ANASE study.
• We are unconvinced by the Government's proposals to mitigate increased CO₂ emissions arising from the third runway's operations.
• The rail proposals are currently unfunded and so entirely speculative.