Heathrow residents lobby MPs
BBC | 16.10.2002 10:21
People who will lose their homes if Heathrow Airport is expanded are travelling to Westminster to lobby MPs.
Several thousand local residents are expected to gather outside Parliament during a debate on the airport proposals.
They also plan to hand in a letter of protest at Number 10 Downing Street.
The expansion of Heathrow is one of a number of options put forward by the government for debate.
Noise and pollution
Others include a new four-runway airport at Cliffe in north Kent, and up to three new runways at Stansted airport in Essex.
People living near Heathrow say 4,000 homes, three primary schools and two old churches will be bulldozed to make way for a new runway.
They also say thousands of people living near the flight paths will be affected by extra noise and pollution.
'Over estimated'
The government proposals are designed to cope with the expected rise in demand for air travel over the next 30 years.
But critics say the demand has been over-estimated, while environmental groups say the government should be looking at reducing the amount of air travel.
A white paper on aviation is due next year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2332241.stm
Several thousand local residents are expected to gather outside Parliament during a debate on the airport proposals.
They also plan to hand in a letter of protest at Number 10 Downing Street.
The expansion of Heathrow is one of a number of options put forward by the government for debate.
Noise and pollution
Others include a new four-runway airport at Cliffe in north Kent, and up to three new runways at Stansted airport in Essex.
People living near Heathrow say 4,000 homes, three primary schools and two old churches will be bulldozed to make way for a new runway.
They also say thousands of people living near the flight paths will be affected by extra noise and pollution.
'Over estimated'
The government proposals are designed to cope with the expected rise in demand for air travel over the next 30 years.
But critics say the demand has been over-estimated, while environmental groups say the government should be looking at reducing the amount of air travel.
A white paper on aviation is due next year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2332241.stm
BBC