Report of our activities since our last AGM in November 2019

Our public activities have been much reduced by lockdown but we demonstrated in support of the legal action against the Airports National Policy Statement (taken by Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Richmond, Hammersmith & Fulham and Windsor & Maidenhead Councils, the Mayor of London, Greenpeace UK and Friends of the Earth) – both at the Court of Appeal in February 2020 and at the Supreme Court in December 2020 – and got good media coverage on both occasions. Our SHE face coverings have been very popular and even appeared in the House of Commons!

Although most of our work has had to be out of the public view, we have continued to campaign against expansion of any sort at Heathrow, and on local environmental issues related to the airport such as noise and pollution. We’ve also highlighted some of the changes Heathrow have brought in during the pandemic which have had negative impacts on the lives of local residents and those further afield. The campaigns we’ve led or supported include:

·      withdrawing or amending the Airports National Policy Statement (Heathrow expansion) legislation 

·      how Heathrow expansion would lead to an increase in toxic pollutants, impacting on local air quality around the airport

·      the climate impacts of Heathrow expansion, highlighting work by Parliament’s Climate Change Committee in having aviation emissions included in carbon targets for the first time, targets which are now enshrined in law

·      how previous environmental promises made by Heathrow, our Government and industry have not been met; is what they say now any more believable?

·      bringing together a significant number of MPs and peers to highlight that without no expansion at Heathrow, the plans for Jet Zero aviation are seriously, if not fatally, undermined

·      Heathrow’s abolition of the Free Travel Zone, which will save them only small sums but will cost those working in and around the airport and may increase car usage

·      World Earth Day and World Environment Day, highlighting local efforts to improve the environment within the 3rd runway demolition zone

·      moving towards sustainable travel to improve local air quality

·      local impacts of Heathrow operations, such as increased noise for residents as a result of runaway closures and the use of mixed mode during the pandemic

·      the Government’s abolition of the Independent Commission of Civil Aviation Noise

·      attitudes to Heathrow operations, expansion and airport noise during the pandemic by seeking views of residents and supporters

·      reductions in accountability at Heathrow following the abolition of local forums and committees

·      increased tariffs at Heathrow for 2021

We regularly engage with many other individuals and groups to increase the effectiveness of our campaigning and to exert greater leverage. Our relations with journalists, both local, regional and national are the most visible aspect of this engagement, as we provide comment and interviews on topical issues for print and broadcast media. We also regularly have our letters published in local newspapers, highlighting the effects of Heathrow’s operation on residents. Others we have engaged with include:

·      Parliamentarians: on aspects of the Environment Bill relating to air quality

·      Local Authority members and officers: on issues such as air and noise pollution 

·      Members of Parliament representing constituents around Heathrow: on a variety of topics on a regular basis

·      Election candidates in 2019 General Election

·      Local election candidates in May 2021

·      London Mayoral candidates in 2021

·      London Assembly Members and election candidates in 2021

·      The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heathrow Expansion

·      Other campaign groups fighting expansion at Heathrow and elsewhere

·      The Civil Aviation Authority: on redrawing the Public Safety Zone area around Heathrow

·      Residents affected by the airport’s operations

The last year has been a busy one for official consultations. We have responded to those listed here and have also submitted evidence to Parliament’s Transport Committee Inquiry on the post-pandemic aviation sector.

·      Sustainable Aviation Fuels: we highlighted why reliance on these alone is not enough to meet net zero emission targets while Heathrow expansion is still being planned

·      Jet Zero strategy: our main criticism was that the proposals did not include any form of demand management through, for example, aviation taxes or a frequent flyer levy

·      Night flights: looking at both the immediate period (2022-2025) and at long-term policy (2025 onwards)

On a domestic scale we have to report a change in our committee’s membership. Early this year Richard Fremantle stood down as Chairman and Dominic Gilham resigned from the committee; we thank them both for the contributions they made. The new Chairman is Justine Bayley, and Hylton Garriock has taken over from her as Treasurer.