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Ministers pressed to backtrack on Heathrow
Jason Beattie, Chief Political Correspondent28 Feb 2008
Ministers are under increasing pressure today to rethink plans for Heathrow expansion after 18,000 people lodged objections to the plans.
The scale of the protest is understood to have taken the Government by surprise and is causing concern at the highest levels of Labour at the potential political fall-out if plans for a third runway are given the go-ahead.
One MP told the Evening Standard there had been a "wobble" within the Department of Transport about BAA's proposals. "They are realising this could cost them votes," he said.
In an attempt to limit the damage, the DfT refused to publish any of the submissions to the consultation, which ended yesterday. Critics claim this is because they are embarrassed that the majority of the responses are opposed to expansion.
The DfT has said it is unlikely to make public the submissions until a final decision is made this summer. The outcome is at odds with other major consultations such as the Ofcom inquiry into children's television advertising which provided a running log on a website of the responses.
Justine Greening, Conservative MP for Putney, said: "So far, given the ministers lack of interest in engaging with the public, the indications are they will overrule the wishes of thousands of respondents to the consultation."
A spokeswoman for the DfT said: "The DfT has gone to great effort to encourage as many people as possible to participate in this consultation by holding public exhibitions. We look forward to seeing the responses."
Reader views (11)
No more expansion of airports in Britain please. Are we
supposed to be saving the planet? The people of Britain have a right to have a say in such important matters. Otherwise we are going to have another Iraq situation.
- Elizabeth Pinner, London, England, 15/03/2008 14:01
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If it were so easy to up sticks and move we would have all done it decades ago, and if we all move, wouldn't this defeat the object of providing jobs for local people, there won't be any local people! Those arrogant people who say move, should try moving their house, generations of memories, ghosts and mean a destruction of the community which cannot be manufactured (viz. new housing estates)- we learnt from the 60's concrete that was poured over our towns and villages, that renewal is just that, then people buy and move on, there is no community left except in areas beneath the flight path, and villages. what do people want, drive in MacDonald's and alienation, because they will get it.
- Pam, twickenham, 29/02/2008 11:27
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I couldn't agree more Mr Jones. This consultation has been a complete joke - compounded by the fact they are too embarrassed to publish the replies! Areas which will inevitably be affected by the third runway have not even been "consulted". How can this be a democracy? BA and BAA get their hub for transit passengers but there is no evident economic benefit for London - but with a huge lifestyle cost and environmental cost to Londoners. Who is more important here? I know how I will be voting at the next elections if this goes through - for the party that will overturn it.
- Caroline, London, 29/02/2008 11:03
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Don't tell me 'if I don't like the noise from the airport, Move' we have lived in this lovely district since 1960, making all the provisions in our house to be able to enjoy living here in our retirement. The last thing we want is to have to move. This is personal, but we also feel strongly about the environmental damage which any increase in aircraft movement would make, our air quality as it is now, is not good, there is an oily scum on our pond during the summer; and the noise must be horrific to teachers who have to stop talking every time an aircraft passes over, so they can never have the windows open during the hot weather or take lessons outside. The government must be made to see that enough is enough, and we have had more than enough.
- Jean West, Whitton, Middlesex, 28/02/2008 23:39
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If the government ignores the depth of feeling and cogent argument expressed by so many good citizens, experts and local politicians, this should unleash a huge tide of resentment. If we have portable skills and opportunity, would we really want to continue to live in this kind of society?
- Steve, London, 28/02/2008 23:39
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If Labour are interested in winning any of the seats under the existing flight paths, or even stopping them switching to the Lib-Dems to the Tories, they need to abandon their plans to end runway alternation.
The third runway is bad enough, but flying planes over people's houses for 16 hours a day, every day of the year is completely unacceptable. What people also don't realise is that the new plans involve planes approaching the southern runway flying at 1,100 meters from around 20 miles from the airport so that huge areas on London currently unaffected by noise will also be getting planes flying over for 16 hours a day every day.
- I Jones, Richmond, UK, 28/02/2008 18:42
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The whole consultation process has been a disgrace - we must hope that the government has the courage to recognise the strength of feeling on this and step back from the brink. In the meantime we must all keep the pressure up.
- Sue, London, 28/02/2008 18:19
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The so called consultation exercise is the biggest sham this country has ever seen.For the DFT not to allow public access to the responses is outrageous and proves that peoples views will be rode over roughshod.
So democracy we live in when BAA effectively run the DFT.
- Peter Black, Seaham County Durham, 28/02/2008 17:58
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Civil disobedience will indeed escalate, no pone who does not have a direct cash benefit for these plans wants them - and they have many many more votes - in a climate of increasing evidence of the health impacts of aircraft, in a world with dodgy security allowing planes to fly over population centres itself seems insane yet here is Gordon backing yet another idiotic plan alienating him from those he represents - if he wants to show courage sack Ruth 'asthma for your kids' Kelly and tell the aviation industry to respect peoples human rights - health and peace and quiet - that would be courage.
- Christian, London UK, 28/02/2008 17:16
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It just shows that the ministers are totally out of touch with the electorate. How can we even consider electing people so out of touch, trying to ram rod their ideas through, without any consultation!
- A.Winsley, London. England, 28/02/2008 16:55
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What is the point of a consultation if the results and views expressed are then roundly ignored? I have news for the Government, the public will not be mollified by getting complaints off their chest via the consultation. All these things will be remembered when the election finally comes around.
- Mark, London, 28/02/2008 14:29
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