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Despair of village doomed by bigger Heathrow
Neil Millard12.01.09
RESIDENTS in a village that would be demolished to make way for a third Heathrow runway fear time has run out in their battle against the bulldozers.
Sipson, which is already overshadowed by Britain's biggest airport, will be wiped off the map if the Government approves the expansion plan.
The decision is only days away, but the people who live in Sipson's 700 homes are resigned to losing their fight.
Mark Bridle, 38, a carpenter, said: "It seems like Gordon Brown is going to say yes to the runway, but people are never going to give up. I don't think people here have been treated very well. They have been left on tenterhooks.
"The Government is destroying a village. The airport is in the wrong place and it's growing. They won't ever be satisfied. They will want a fourth runway, I'm sure."
Campaigner Lynne Davies, 60, a retired florist, said: "I have lived in Sipson for 50 years. My brother-in-law built my house and now we have a Spanish company coming in with compulsory purchase and offering us peanuts.
"They have only offered us market value, moving costs and 10 per cent commission when they get planning permission. That's not a good deal. I don't want somebody telling me what to do.
"And environmentally it's not good for anybody. We have got the Government telling us to cut our emissions and then in the next breath they want to throw it out of the window."
Andrew O'Connell, 45, a British Airways coach driver, said: "I'm surprised it's come this quickly - I thought it would be 10 to 15 years away. It's going to destroy a lot of people and a lot of older people who live in this village.
"I will be gutted when it goes. It will be heartbreaking. I don't know where to move to, I love it here. The Government is messing about with people's lives. They should expand Stansted or Gatwick instead. They have a lot more land there.
Bryan Sobey, 79, a retired customs officer and member of No Third Runway Action Group, said: "Destroying this town is outrageous. It means my house is where a future Terminal Six will be. I will be evicted from my home. But I'm not sure it's a done deal, not quite so sure as I was a little time ago.
"I thought the Government would lose too much face if they backed off but they have a little bit of a rebellion in their own ranks."
Kitty Seccombe, 79, a retired B&B manager, said: "A third runway will kill me. I've got deterioration of the spine, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome and I'm all on my own. Even if I wanted to move I wouldn't get another home of the same standard with the money they are giving us. They will have to bulldoze the house with me in it."
Shaun Walters, 45, landlord of the 400-year-old King William IV pub, said: "There should be progress, but not at the expense of people's homes. They can take my pub and rebuild it somewhere else - that's no problem.
"It's not the bricks and mortar, it's the people in them. It's a community."
Reader views (23)
Looking at the proximity now of Sipson the the runways I would think the residents would be better off in a new, greener environment and am surprised they have not wanted to move away from the pollution before now! In this economic climate I think that I would be happy to take the offer of market price, plus 10% plus moving costs. We all have to move on and accept that changes happen, for good or for bad. Did the victims of bombing in the Second World War have any choice when they lost their homes? Come on Sipson, I would take this as a positive move for the better. Not sure that I understand the implications of a Spanish company offering you this deal - why is it not from this government?
- Maria Edmunds, Hanworth, Middlesex
Sipson a lovely little village..save it and Harmondsworth
- Robin, Royston UK
I just love the comment " They've ONLY offered us market value PLUS moving costs PLUS 10% " !!!
How many householders in the UK would be dismissive of THAT offer right now??!
Brilliant idea from Patrick in Dalston for the residents to lobby for a new Eco-Town that they can all move into together.
When life throws you a lemon it's time to make lemonade....
- Robert, London
This government are no better than their Communist counterpart in China that demolished homes and destroyed commmunities for an Olympic Stadium. Democracy in this country is being killed off by this despotic Government.
With know one in the Cabinet having one iota of business experience what would any of them know about the commercial viability of a fourth runway? Correct! Absolutely nothing other than what they are being told by those with a vested interest in its construction.
- Sophie, London
From what I can gather, most of the residents of Sipson work, or used to work, at the airport anyway.
What's their beef?
- George, London
Phil, you are quite right. No parliament can bind its successor so if David Cameron wants to say that the first action of an incoming Conservative government will be to push through a bill that revokes all third runway approvals then why doesn't he? And if such a commitment were to be made (though it won't be) then if BAA or anyone else spends money in pursuance of this project, they do so with no right to compensation since they are on notice as to the risk they are taking. So, Dave, put up or shut up.
- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia
I think Shaun Walters hit the nail on the head. It's not the houses that are being demolished it's the community. Imagine the place where you grew up, your first school, the park bench where you had your first kiss, the pub where you and your mates got drunk at 17, the first home you bought, the home you brought your first children home to from the hospital etc.
Then imagine that place under concrete wiped from the face of the planet all so some people from one country can fly cheaply to another country via this country so in order for some business people to make some money out of it.
No matter how badly this airport affects the rest of London or the world it's these people that my heart goes out to.
- Rich, London
It's incredible they are planning for growth in air travel anyway, given the economy, and more importantly the long term carbon emission problems and eventual shortage of liquid fuel. A lot of flights could go to high-speed rail - if anyone can afford to travel in the future.
They should modernise Marston in Kent immediately, if they need extra flights, then if need be replace Heathrow in stages with one, two or three new Thames Estuary runways over a period.
- Alex Mckenna, Manchester
im amazed how many people who have earned or are earning a living from the airport are opposing this runway.Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!!!! As for the local MP's that are objecting this ,how are they planning to address the unemployment levels and lack of income when heathrow is non existant?
Come on guys, if pollution is the main concern, get BAA to buy a couple of acres in the Amazon to compensate.
- Gary Holmes, west drayton,middlesex
Will the people of Sipson be offered the market value
for their homes pre credit crunch or post credit crunch?
Have Labour pulled a fast one on this issue?
- Malcolm May, Windsor, UK
Speak up, David Cameron! Where do you stand? If you expect to be Prime Minister in a matter of months, you should now speak up with your position. No waffling, no weasling! If you state categorically that any work on a third runway will be stopped & reversed by a Conservative Government, the message will be sent loud and clear to Brown & Co that whatever they do will be wasted. What's that, David? I can't hear you. Speak louder! If I don't hear you, the message will be that you are a weasel, ready to come into power and say that things can't be reversed once started. The ballot box will tell the tale for Brown & Co on Heathrow. It could tell the tale for you too, David -- if you don't speak out now.
- Phil Jones, London UK
The people in the affected area have an honest reason for protest, regardless of the probable outcome - I just hope their legitimate protests aren't drowned out by the anarchist 'cause' usurpers on the periphery.
- Rogan, Irving
I lived at Sipson 30 years ago when I worked at Heathrow , Happy memories of the Crown Public House , Sad to hear the news , I hope all the residents of Sipson get decent compensation & all the support they need.
- Peter Lawless, Hartlepool UK
'Sipson is a very tiny sacrifice' ...
It is NOT just Sipson. Much of Harmondsworth and Harlington will be bulldozed. Many people were born here. Others have been here for 40+ years - foolishly believing the lies of John Egan and other aviation mafia.
It is 150,000 West Londoners to be overflown. Here the pollution criteria are ALREADY exceeded and the noise above the WHO level.
Sipson will be under concrete. Harmondsworth &, Harlington will be decimated. Longford, Colnbrook, parts of Hayes and West Drayton will be a post industrial hell. And there's no compensation.
- Christine Shilling, Harmondsworth, UK
Ha ha ha... "They have only offered us market value, moving costs and 10 per cent commission when they get planning permission.
- Haskey, London SE1
I wonder how Keith would feel if it was his house they knocked down. Heathrow is a terrible airport that needs to be scrapped and rebuilt somewhere else. I thought BAA was on the verge of bankruptcy. Where are they going to get the money to build the third runway and sixth terminal? From us??? And don't even get me started about the enviroment.....
- Kelly Myers, Sipson, England
are you the same people that said wembley and the olimpics should be in london
- Edwin, birmingham uk
It's a shame. I remember many years ago stopping at the King William as it was a better spot to wait for an arriving flight than the short stay car parks.
Saved more than enough for a pint.
- Alex, Somerset
"But, Heathrow should not be there at all. "
Stephen, youcannot be serious. A hundred years ago many Welsh villages were emptied and flooded for reservoirs to provide Birmingham and Liverpool with drinking water.
What is the difference? Sipson is a very tiny sacrifice that will benefit millions of air travellers for years to come
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Oh well Londoners get told by Crash Gordon what is better for them we do not have a clue. How is this travesty of an airport expansion allowed in the wrong place at the wrong time?!?? It seems BAA is rewarded for extreme failure no?
- Win, London
I commiserate entirely with the people of Sipson. But, Heathrow should not be there at all. Too many aircraft flying over a densely populated area is a recipe for trouble, not to mention the noise and pollution. There should be a new airport, built on a man made island in the Thames eatuary, with high speed links to all parts of the UK, London and the continent. It's called long-term planning and it seems there are too few-a-people in prominent places who have the will or ability to bight the bullit and make a decision. Stanstead and Heathrow should both GO. City airport should remain very small. Examples; Hong Kong airport on a man made island. Munich airport for decisiveness and exemplary organisation and planning when change over took place from the old airport to the new thiry kilometers outside Munich.
Don't forget what happened with terminal 5. It seems that advanced planning and organistion in the UK is falling well short.
- Stephen Lediard, Munich Germany
The residents of Sipson should look at this in a positive way. They should lobby the government to take this a step further by rehousing them all in a new "eco town" and thus would have the advantage of moving from old inefficient houses in an out of date environment to new modern cost efficient accommodation.
- Patrick Griffin, Dalston, London
Brown comes to town , riding roughshod over all before him. I am sure this will have to be rushed through to save the economy and provide 1000's of jobs at this terrible time. Heard it all before Gordon. Bully Boy Brown! What a sham, lets have the promised infastructure first, rail links and roads etc, then the runway!!!!
- A Williams, Uxbridge Uk
