NEW LEADER WILL FIGHT TO STOP HEATHROW EXPANSION
Press Release
15 January 2021
For immediate use
NEW LEADER WILL FIGHT TO STOP HEATHROW EXPANSION
A new leader of Hillingdon Council took office on Thursday night (14 January), stating that the Council will fight proposals to expand Heathrow Airport in order to protect the local environment and residents.
Cllr Ian Edwards, a Councillor for Eastcote ward in the north of Hillingdon, succeeds Cllr Sir Ray Puddifoot MBE, who stood down after 21 years in the role.
On becoming the new Leader, Cllr Edwards made clear that Hillingdon Council “will continue to defend our environment and the residents against the third runway" (1).
The London Borough of Hillingdon would be severely impacted by the proposals, with most of the villages of Harmondsworth, Sipson, Longford and Harlington either destroyed or rendered uninhabitable if a 3rd runway is built.
Other parts of the borough such as West Drayton and Uxbridge would experience a major increase in traffic on an already congested road network, with air pollution increasing as a result. The north of the borough, including Northwood and Ruislip, also face being under a 3rd runway flight path.
The ability to comply with climate change legislation would mean airports in other locations around the UK would need to reduce in size or potentially even close, according to the Climate Change Committee – the Government’s statutory advisors on climate policies.
Cllr Peter Curling, Leader of the Opposition, commended Cllr Puddifoot’s opposition to Heathrow expansion and said that he “looked forward” to working with the new administration on this issue, reconfirming the Labour Group’s “resolute opposition” to the plans (2).
Richard Fremantle, Chair of Stop Heathrow Expansion, said:
“We offer our warmest of thanks to Cllr. Puddifoot for his strong opposition to Heathrow expansion over many, many years, particularly the support Hillingdon Council has given to communities under threat from expansion throughout his leadership. We wish him all the very best for the future.
“We hope to continue our excellent relationship with Hillingdon Council and working with Cllr. Edwards to prevent environmental and community destruction in the south of the borough, as well as the dreadful impacts Heathrow expansion would have in the rest of Hillingdon and beyond.”
ENDS.
Notes:
Hillingdon Council, 14 January 2021. Cllr. Edwards' comments on Heathrow (38:20) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VlkZxflg0M.
Cllr. Curling’s remarks to Council (29:20) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VlkZxflg0M.