Night Flights at Heathrow Airport

In a debate in Parliament yesterday, during Noise Action Week, I challenged the Government to ban night flights at Heathrow airport on the grounds of health and quality of life factors for local residents.
New research from Warwick University published in the European Heart Journal in February this year studied the impact of hormones and chemicals caused by chronic lack of sleep in the body. They concluded that: "If you sleep less than six hours per night and have disturbed sleep, you stand a 48% greater chance of developing or dying from heart disease and a 15% greater chance of developing or dying from a stroke."
The World Health Organisation and the HYENA report from Imperial College London also found that, even if people don't wake up, there is evidence that noise from night flights causes immediate increases in blood pressure.
The impact of night flights on the lives of those living under the flightpaths of Heathrow airport is something we must take seriously. Stronger enforcement of current quotas is required, together with higher fines for consistent offenders. As we prepare to set new night flight agreements for 2012/17, we must also give full consideration to reducing or eliminating night flights, especially between the critical 11.30pm and 6.00am period.
I also urge the Government to work with BAA and the airlines to ensure effective noise mitigation, such as insulation and double glazing, for those who are worst affected by the noise of aircraft at Heathrow.
I hope that the Government's current consultation on the future UK aviation strategy marks a positive step forward in relations between the Government and the aviation industry. I want us to ensure that Heathrow airport continues to thrive and, at the same time, takes into account the quality of life of those who live around the airport.

Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Osterley and Hounslow need change!

With only a few days to go, I wanted to give you a few reasons for why I would like you to vote Conservative on May 6th.

Reason No 1

The Labour government and Gordon Brown have backed a Third Runway all the way. Labour still does. So, returning a Labour government or a Labour-led coalition keeps a Third Runway high on the government agenda. Only a Conservative government will stop the Third Runway and introduce a better transport policy - not just for this constituency but also for London and the UK.

If you want a local candidate who will support local residents on this issue and stop the third runway, then vote for me.

And if you want to know more about our policies in this area click here:
http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Transport.aspx

Other reasons to follow!

A victory on Heathrow

Congratulations to everyone involved in the campaign to stop the third runway at Heathrow. Friday's decision at the High Court shows clearly that Labour's transport policy is now in tatters. The decision is one I welcome as I have been part of the team fighting against a third runway for the last three years.

Labour should stop and listen to local people. The majority of residents are against the third runway and so they should take account of what they say. Within hours, transport secretary, Lord Adonis, was quoted by the BBC saying "Today's judgement marks no change whatsoever in the policy on Heathrow." This government has clearly been in power too long. It has lost touch with the electorate.

As long as Labour remain in power, a third runway remains a real threat. A vote for Ann Keen is a vote for a third runway.

PS

If you haven't read details of the decision yesterday, this article from the Independent covers it well. In the picture, you'll also see Barbara Reid, a local Conservative Councillor, on the far right waving the judgement papers along with Justine Greening MP.

http://bit.ly/9yJn0k

Fighting a 3rd Runway

If you're interested in taking steps against a 3rd runway at Heathrow, Cllr Barbara Reid, a Hounslow Councillor and long term campaigner against Heathrow expansion, explains what local Conservatives have been doing and how you can get involved.
Heathrow expansion is a critical issue nationally and locally, and so I have pledged my support to put a stop to the 3rd runway.

See Barbara here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZWTzjp5H5g

Willliam Hague speaks out against a 3rd Runway

Rt Hon William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, visited the constituency this week.

He condemned Labour for its support of a third runway at Heathrow and restated the Conservative Party's opposition to it. He said that a fourth Labour term would mean a third runway and Labour will look for ways to expand Heathrow.

Just like him and so many others in the constituency, I’m opposed to plans for a third runway which will damage the lives of millions with noise, pollution and congestion, and will harm the environment. If you are against a third runway, then please vote Conservative at the next election...as this is the only way to stop it happening. I will continue the fight for you.

Photo: Cllr Mark Bowen (candidate Feltham & Heston, Rt Hon William Hague MP, Mary Macleod

Boris Johnson in Hounslow today

This afternoon, the Mayor of London is in Hounslow to celebrate the launch of Freewheel, Hounslow. http://www.london.gov.uk/freewheel/signup/

After his official duties, Boris will be joining me and some Councillors and doing a walkabout on the High Street. Please do come along and meet us at 4.30-5pm. We will be walking from School Road and heading west to Bell/Cressy Corner.

There are a lot of issues that Boris and I agree on. The most important being our opposition to Heathrow expansion.

Government give go-ahead for Third Runway

Last week, the Government gave the go-ahead for a Third Runway at Heathrow.

This shows clearly that they have not listened to local people and that they do not care at all for the local environment. As Theresa Villiers, the Shadow Transport Secretary warned, “A third runway at Heathrow would inflict devastating damage to the environment and to the quality of life of millions of people and the Conservatives will fight them every step of the way.”

An increase of 222,000 extra flights a year will have a major impact of residents, and I, with Theresa, will continue to fight the Government's plans.

If you have been a Labour voter in the past but are against a Third Runway at Heathrow, please now vote for the Conservatives... so that we can stop these plans from being implemented.

Can we stop expansion at Heathrow....yes we can!

The government's latest plans for a rail link to Heathrow to serve a third runway appears as a last minute desperate measure to shore up their ill-conceived plans for expansion at Heathrow.

We already have proposed high speed rail as an alternative to a third runway. The government is now jumping on the bandwagon. It shows just how much trouble they are in with their expansion plans, which are opposed by 95% of local residents.

A third runway and mixed-mode operations would be disastrous for local people. There would be a 50% increase in flights and the respite that currently comes from runway alternation would be gone. It is immoral to expect people to live with that level of noise. I will continue to fight against expansion at Heathrow and to safeguard and improve quality of life for local residents.

I have invited Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon to visit the constituency before making his final decision but have not yet had a response from him. Wonder why?

Day 2 at Party Conference

I spoke out at the Conservative Party Conference today in Birmingham against the Government’s plans for Heathrow expansion.

I was delighted with the announcement made by Theresa Villiers, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, who told the conference that the Conservative Party were against all plans for a third runway and instead proposed the development of a high speed rail link.

This will make a tremendous difference to those who live locally. We have listened to local residents and their concerns about noise, pollution and congestion. The quality of life of local people is more important.

This also creates clear blue water between Labour and the Conservatives. We will stop any plans for a third runway, whereas the Labour government are determined to expand Heathrow whatever the cost. Labour has ignored the impact of a third runway on people who live in local communities and has fudged an economic argument that does not stack up.

We need a change of government now!

Saying NO to expansion ... on a protest march

What a great rally it was today!

Thousands met at Hatton Cross and walked to Sipson.

There we formed a large NO on the ground. This was followed by speeches from politicians across the political spectrum.

People came out in force to show how they felt about the government's plans for a third runway at Heathrow. Some were there because the increased noise and pollution will affect them individually and others were there because they are concerned about climate change and believe we should be taking environmental issues seriously.

Why doesn't the government listen to the people of this country, when they speak with a loud voice on issues that really matter to them? They will be forced to listen when it comes to a General Election!

Photo: Mary with Justine Greening (MP for Putney) on the NO march

Continuing the fight on Heathrow expansion

Barbara Reid and I attended an Evening Standard debate last week at the RSA on Heathrow expansion.

Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of State for Transport, was present and spoke at the meeting, presenting the government’s case for expansion. She said that she believed that Heathrow was too small, the UK needed a hub airport and that expansion was necessary for economic growth and competitiveness.

I addressed two specific issues directly to her.

Firstly, I told her that her economic argument did not stack up. As someone who works in the financial services banking sector in the city, I believe strongly that the city and the economy will not suffer if Heathrow does not expand. Whenever there is a threat of a recession, companies are immediately more cost focused, and one of the first cut backs they make, is on international travel. The business does not suffer because of this as technology allows communication through email and an increased use of telephone conferencing and video conferencing. Even although business is getting ever more global, there are global ways of working without physically having to be there....as offshoring to places like India has shown us.

I finished by telling Ruth Kelly of the results of my resident’s survey which showed 93% of residents against expansion. I told her that she should listen to those people who are affected by the proposed changes.

I really do care about the economy (not least because my current job depends on a strong financial sector!) as we need a strong economic climate to ensure people have jobs and prosperity. But I do not believe this is an economic debate. I care about local people and their quality of life. This is far more important, than this Labour government’s determination just to do whatever they want to.

I will keep up the fight on this issue on behalf of local residents.

My first Terminal 5 experience

The last time I visited Scotland, I took the train. I was at my destination in about 5 hours - relaxed and refreshed.

This weekend I took a flight as I wanted to be in Edinburgh for a family dinner on Friday night and needed to work during the day. I flew from City Airport - what a pleasant experience! There were no traffic jams getting to the airport, there were no queues checking in, we did not have to walk for miles to get to our gate and although it was busy since it was a Friday night, we got through security really quickly.

The return journey did not go well! I flew from Edinburgh to Heathrow Terminal 5. My first experience of the new terminal. The plane was over two hours late leaving... not a good start. When we arrived at Heathrow, we had to wait for a plane to vacate our stand. When we got parked at our stand, the bridge wouldn't work. We then had to wait until steps and buses were found. When steps and buses arrived, we then had a bus driver who did not know what driving smoothly and carefully meant. We then tried to enter a door at terminal 5 which was not the right one. Eventually we were there waiting for luggage...and hurrah, it did arrive. The journey had taken seven hours! Both BA and BAA had played their part in making this a truely bad customer experience. This is proof enough that what we should be concentrating on is in making Heathrow better ...not bigger. BA and BAA cannot even manage current capacity, so how on earth are they going to deliver a service to almost twice the number of customers.

Also, why don't we invest more in our trains to make them better, quicker and more reliable and then people would much more readily take trains for domestic travelling. The Eurostar is a perfect example of this. When travelling to Paris or Brussels now, I always take the Eurostar. It is quick. It is reliable. It is an enjoyable experience.

Tonight, however, we did get a fabulous view of London at night...from Canary Wharf, over Westminster, Chelsea, Chiswick and Hounslow. Every time I see these landmarks, it reminds me how much I love this city. Like Dr Johnson, I will never get tired of London. It is home.

Boris Johnson meeting local residents

Boris Johnson made a great impression as he visited Chatsworth Avenue in Hounslow to talk to local residents about Heathrow expansion. Unlike Ruth Kelly, he came to see for himself, what it was like to live under the flight path.

Boris has said clearly that he is against Heathrow expansion as he knows how much it will affect the quality of life of residents who live in the area.

Given the ridiculous mess and confusion at Terminal 5 last week and this week ... how can we even trust BAA to run their current capacity effectively and professionally.

Photo - Mary with Farhana Letzelter with daughter Ophelia, aged 4 years, and Cllr Brad Fisher, Boris Johnson MP and Tony Arbour (London Assembly member)

Is it a fix?

The Sunday Times this week had an article in it that alleged that BAA and the Government had colluded to doctor the environmental figures on Heathrow to make the case for expansion.

If these allegations are true, then the Government's consultation is a complete waste of time....and they are lying to us by going through the motion of a consultation.

If these allegations are true, then this will be another case which shows that the Government does just whatever it wants, with no regard to what the public think.

If these allegations are true, then Ruth Kelly must be held to account on this.

93% say NO!

Local residents are definitely saying a strong 'NO' to the Government's expansion plans of Heathrow.

I have recently sent out 45,000 surveys to local residents asking for their views. So far, 93% of respondents have said that they are against expansion.

This view was supported at the public meeting I organised in Isleworth this week. The speakers were (from left to right of photo):

- John Stewart, Chairman of HACAN (Heathrow Association for Control of Aircraft Noise)
- Maggie Thorburn, Friends of the Earth and local resident

- Roger Wiltshire, Secretary General of BATA (British Air Transport Association)

- I am in the middle

- Cllr Barbara Reid, Hounslow Council's lead member of aviation

- Cllr Phil Andrews, local ward Councillor

There was a really good turn out at the Isleworth Working Men's Club on St John's Road on Thursday night. It showed the strength of feeling that people have on this issue ...as these plans will affect their quality of life on a daily basis.

We must continue to speak out on this, to make the Government listen to public opinion. Lets not give up the fight!

Heathrow Community meeting in Isleworth

I am organising a public community meeting on the Government’s plans for expansion at Heathrow on:
Thursday, 21 February 2007 at 7.30pm, Isleworth Working Men’s Club, St. John’s Road (near Twickenham Road junction).

The government is currently consulting with local residents on plans for massive expansion at Heathrow Airport by building a third runway, a sixth terminal and ending runway alternation. Aircraft noise will be worse than ever as flight numbers will increase by more than 50% and you will lose the current half day's relief from aircraft flying over your homes and schools.

This meeting is a chance for you to make your views heard before the consultation period ends on 27th February. Do tell friends and neighbours to come along and hear the real facts.

Speakers: John Stewart, Chairman of HACAN, Cllr Barbara Reid, Hounslow Council’s lead member for aviation
Chaired by: Mary Macleod, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Brentford & Isleworth

Ann Keen MP, Lord Soley (Future Heathrow) and Mark Bullock (BAA) have also been invited to attend and speak.

Hounslow says 'NO' to expansion at Heathrow

There was a resounding 'no' to expansion at Heathrow, at the Civic Centre meeting in Hounslow this week. All speakers at the meeting gave superb speeches - with facts and information about the impact of expansion on local residents.

Expansion will completely affect the qualilty of lives of those who live under or near the flight path. We all need to speak with a loud voice against this - not because we are against businesses expanding - but because we believe in making Heathrow better not bigger.

Lets keep up the momentum on this fight in the months ahead. It is important we are heard...we need to be listened to and our views taking into account. Isn't that what democracy is about?

Chiswick residents lead the fight against Heathrow expansion

Last night I went to the Chiswick meeting which HACAN had organised on the Government's Heathrow expansion plans. Crowds of residents turned out to the meeting so a larger venue had to be found at the last minute! This in itself was a clear demonstration of how important everyone feels this issue is to their quality of life.

John Stewart, Cllr Barbara Reid and the other speakers spoke very passionately against the Government's expansion plans and very clearly explained the impact of these plans to those who live near the flight path.

The 500 people present all put up their hands to show that they will say 'NO' to expansion at Heathrow. As Barbara said in the meeting, "we need to make Heathrow better, not bigger".

Heathrow consultation begins

The Government has just started the consultation on Heathrow expansion. We only have three months to submit our views on this so it is really important that we all respond to say what we think.

My personal view is very simple. I am a business woman so I am certainly not against business growth and expansion. The problem here, is that future expansion at Heathrow Airport will affect the lives of thousands of residents and have huge implications on the environment and the quality of life of the local community:

Quality of life – residents already have to cope with a plane flying overhead approx every 90 seconds and constant aircraft noise which already exceeds World Heath Organisation recommendations. When aircraft numbers double for mixed mode, then they will have no relief at all during the day from noise.

Environment - the levels of environmental pollution in the air around Heathrow consistently breach EU Air Quality limits. The government’s planned expansion at Heathrow is totally inconsistent with its perceived concerns on environmental pollution and targets for reducing carbon emissions. There are also possible public health issues here that need to be carefully addressed.

Night flights - Heathrow is allowed to land 16 flights per night during the period 23.30 to 06.30 but the reality is that most of these arrive from 04.30 onwards, and a recent report suggests that this quota is regularly breached. The result is that sleep disturbance is a real factor for those under the flight path.

Education - children suffer from aircraft noise at school as well as at home. Many schools in the London Borough of Hounslow are under a flight path and the result is a stop-start education as teachers cannot make themselves heard through the noise. Some schools are partially insulated; some have no insulation at all. There is only minimal funding for noise insulation. The local authorities cannot afford to insulate all its schools and the aviation industry is not obliged to provide funding.

Transport – local traffic congestion around the airport is already a major problem and an increase in capacity would result in demand that the local traffic infrastructure would be unable to cope with.

Property Values – as Heathrow continues to grow, the value of properties in the area are likely to reduce. Residents moved to the area not realising that Heathrow would double in size which would impact their lives substantially and affect the value of their property.

Safety – the more Heathrow expands, the safety risks increase. We do not know the current figures for vertical separation but data has been requested from BAA to see the current levels of risk, in what is a densely populated part of London. We do not want a serious accident in a residential area to be the reason for change. We need to prevent that accident from happening.

Due to these reasons, what do I think we should do? Here is my view...

1. Say no to the third runway
2. Say no to mixed mode - keep runway alternation so that residents get relief from noise for part of the day
3. Ban all night flights
4. Maintain the current flight movement cap
5. Agree a more comprehensive noise insulation scheme for schools, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and libraries
6. Create a new longer term airline strategy for the UK that is aligned to an overall transport policy

Is that clear enough? I hope so!