Petition cards delivered to Downing Street

Residents who face losing their homes to make way for a third runway at Heathrow delivered 1,000 petition cards to 10 Downing Street today.

John McDonnell MP (holding cards) and Ruth Cadbury MP (blue jacket) on the steps of No 10 with campaigners and Harmondsworth residents

Labour MPs John McDonnell and Ruth Cadbury joined Harmondsworth residents and anti-runway campaigners as the final decision approaches on airport expansion in the south-east.

The petition cards were signed over two days at two local events in west London recently and called on Prime Minister Theresa May, who represents nearby Maidenhead, to oppose the expansion of the country’s largest airport.

The visit to Downing Street sends a strong reminder to the Prime Minister that residents around Heathrow Airport are firmly opposed to its expansion – whether it is on the grounds of the destruction of thousands of homes, noise, pollution, costs to the taxpayer for the infrastructure or climate change.

Jackie Clark-Basten, Chair of Stop Heathrow Expansion, said: “For Heathrow Villagers, the threat of expansion invades many aspects of life and almost every long-term decision. It is a myth that Heathrow has the money to compensate everyone affected and even if Heathrow airport had billions, how will money soothe those who stand to lose everything they hold dear?”

John McDonnell, MP for Hayes & Harlington, said: “Taking our campaign to the door on No. 10 is an important reminder to the Prime Minister of the destruction that would follow the construction of a third runway. Theresa May now has the opportunity to demonstrate that her government will live up to David Cameron’s promise of “no ifs, no buts, no third runway” and that she has not been captured by the aviation corporates.”

Ruth Cadbury, MP for Brentford & Isleworth, said: “Even with new transport infrastructure, west London’s roads will grind to a halt with more congestion and of course more air pollution. I hope the Prime Minister recognises there has to be a balance and that she ensures Runway 3 goes no further.”

The cards allowed signatories to indicate their reasons for opposing the proposed new runway, with reasons including pollution, noise, loss of homes, safety & security, costs of infrastructure and climate change. Percentages representing the number of respondents that ticked each reason are indicated below:

Noise                                                    90%

Pollution                                               88%

Loss of homes                                      80%

Climate change                                    70%

Costs of infrastructure                         61%

Safety & security                                 58%

The box of cards included a letter from the Chair of SHE, which referred to the local impacts of a third runway and Heathrow's acceptance that its current proposals are undeliverable.