Prime Minister’s local council vote through legal action on Heathrow

Press Release

13 October 2016

For immediate use

Prime Minister’s local council vote through legal action on Heathrow

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has confirmed it will proceed with legal action should the government recommend Heathrow expansion this month.

At a meeting of the Cabinet Prioritisation Sub-Committee this morning, the decision to commence legal proceedings against the Government was passed unanimously, with the council acknowledging it had a “duty to protect” its residents from a third runway.

The meeting confirmed the council will contribute “£50,000 initially” to the cost of the legal action. Cllr Simon Dudley, Leader of the Council told the meeting that this equates to “less than £1” per household.

Robert Barnstone, Campaign Coordinator for Stop Heathrow Expansion, who addressed the meeting, said: “Residents will be reassured that the Royal Borough is delivering in its commitment to protect residents from Heathrow expansion. This reassurance extends to the village of Harmondsworth, where residents are fighting to save their homes, schools, local businesses and places of worship from being demolished.”

Maidenhead resident Paul Groves, who attended the meeting, said: “I am reassured as a resident of Maidenhead that the Royal Borough is committing to this legal action to protect myself and all other residents from the area from 260,000 extra flights per year, as well as increased traffic and pollution.”

Stop Heathrow Expansion is a resident-led group based in the village of Harmondsworth in the London Borough of Hillingdon, which would face demolition if Heathrow Expansion were to go ahead. We work with other anti-Heathrow expansion groups.

Ends.

For more information: Rob Barnstone on 07806 947050