The Government is proposing to expand Heathrow over the next 25 years, adding a third runway, increasing the number of flights by 50% and increasing the number of passengers by 100%. This will lead to aircraft noise all day in Richmond, both from landings and for the first time, takeoffs. It will build up pressure for more night and early morning flights, further disturbing our sleep. And it will increase traffic congestion in west London, add to noise pollution all over south-eastern England, and contribute to climate change.
Richmond Heathrow Campaign
How can you help?
Make your voice heard
Saturday afternoon, 31st May in Sipson
We are providing coaches from Richmond
Rrally organised by HACAN Clear Skies, NoTRAG, 2M Group (representing 19 local authorities across London), Enoughisenough, the Campaign against Climate Change and Greenpeace UK.
The biggest event yet
This is our last opportunity to show the extent of opposition to an expanded Heathrow before the Government announces the outcome of February's consultation.
Be part of the biggest and loudest NO in the Guinness Book of Records! On a recreation ground that would be destroyed for Terminal Six, you'll be able to help form the giant NO before moving into the heart of Sipson village for speeches and an afternoon of free events.
Take one of our coaches from Richmond . . .
Assemble on the Little Green near Richmond Theatre from 12:00 midday onwards for coaches to Sipson at 12:30 pm. Return coaches will leave Sipson for Richmond at 3:30 pm.
Please reserve your coach place before Friday 23rd May. You can do this by registering your name, phone number and number of places needed on our list at The Open Book, 10 King Street, Richmond or by email to action@richmondheathrowcampaign.org.
A donation on the day towards the transport cost would be welcome.
. . . or join the carnival march from Hatton Cross
Alternatively, you can join the carnival march from Hatton Cross station at midday, walking the two miles or so to Sipson.
You can catch the 490 bus for Hatton Cross from Richmond Station or Wakefield Road Bus Station every 12 minutes with a 30 minute scheduled journey time.
Or you can board the District Line to Hammersmith and change to the Piccadilly Line.
Special buses back to tube stations will be available at the end of the rally.
Let's send a very clear message
For a copy of the Richmond Heathrow Campaign's poster for this event, click here.
Make sure the Government doesn't bend the rules
The Government has decided to sacrifice air quality standards across London in order to allow an extra 60,000 flights per year into Heathrow.
The European Union air quality directive, which comes into force next month, would require the UK to meet limits on NO2 by 2010, in line with World Health Organisation standards.
The Government's plan to secure a waiver from the rules was disclosed in a presentation given to a conference on air quality earlier this month by an official at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The civil servant from the department's air quality unit revealed that the Government is drawing up plans to ask Brussels for formal permission to delay compliance with Europe-wide air quality rules. It has asked for a five-year exemption for NO2 emissions and a year for particulates of less than ten microns in size.
The purpose of such "derogations" is to allow time for governments to meet the rules with existing emissions. Its purpose is not to allow governments to increase emissions.
Please write to your MEPs asking them to campaign against the UK Government's request for derogation from an EU directive which protects the quality of all our lives.
Names, addresses and other contact details of London's MEPs can be found by clicking on "London" on the map at this page on the European Parliament's website.
Alternatively, you can send an email to one or all of them by using the "write to them" website.
Please do write to them. The more letters they receive, the greater weight their work on our behalf will have.
... and you can still write to the Secretary of State for Transport
In July or August, the Government is expected to announce their decision on the outcome of the consultation carried out earlier this year.
The opportunity to influence their thinking is still open. Please write to:
Rt Hon Ruth Kelly MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DR
Point out the extent of opposition to Heathrow expansion as demonstrated by:
- the uprecedented number of responses to the consultation
- the great breadth of local, national and international organisations against Heathrow expansion
- the universally unfavourable response from the national press - see our press page for examples
Ask whether this could be an opportunity for the Government to show that it listens to its people.