'Future Heathrow" - a spurious lobby group set up to help push through BAA's unpopular plans yesterday released an survey showing Londoners' apparent support for more and constant overflying.
However the "independent" survey showed its true colours when it emerged that it had been e-mailed out by BAA, who forgot to remove the footer reading:
“If you would rather not receive future email messages from BAA......"
However the "independent" survey showed its true colours when it emerged that it had been e-mailed out by BAA, who forgot to remove the footer reading:
“If you would rather not receive future email messages from BAA......"
The opinion poll issued yesterday by the pro-Heathrow expansion group, Future Heathrow, is at variance with earlier polls. Last year the Mayor of London commissioned a major poll from ICM which showed that 75% of people are opposed to any plans to end runway alternation at Heathrow (1). This ranged from 63% in Lambeth to an overwhelming 78% in Hammersmith and Hounslow and as high as 83% in Richmond and 93% in Hillingdon. These figures are consistent with polling down by the London borough of Hounslow.
The poll from Future Heathrow claimed to show that 56% of people “strongly or somewhat support” the end of runway alternation and that 50% of people “strongly support or somewhat support” the building of a third runway.
But is has emerged that the Future Heathrow press release appears to have by emailed out by BAA. At the foot of the press release is the note: “If you would rather not receive future email messages from BAA, please go to
http://vocuspr.com/VocusEU/OptOut.aspx?516828x522570x4759x2x325947x24000x6, BAA, 234 Bath Rd, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 5AP
John Stewart, the Chair of campaign group HACAN, said, “The connection with BAA must caste doubt over the findings of this poll. I suspect that Future Heathrow commissioned this poll in order to try and boost the confidence of both BAA and the Government in advance of the forthcoming consultation on Heathrow expansion (2). BAA has had a terrible year and, in recent weeks, the Department for Transport has come under fire over night flights where it has been accused of trying to mislead the public on the actual number of planes using Heathrow at night.”
Stewart added, “The findings of this Future Heathrow poll are contradicted by earlier polls. It must raise the possibility that this is a rogue poll.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
(1). Last year the Mayor of London commissioned an opinion poll from ICM covering the boroughs of Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond, Hammersmith & Fulham, City of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth and Lambeth.
(2). The Government is expected to consult on proposals to build a 3rd runway and end runway alternation next month.
For further information:
contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
The poll from Future Heathrow claimed to show that 56% of people “strongly or somewhat support” the end of runway alternation and that 50% of people “strongly support or somewhat support” the building of a third runway.
But is has emerged that the Future Heathrow press release appears to have by emailed out by BAA. At the foot of the press release is the note: “If you would rather not receive future email messages from BAA, please go to
http://vocuspr.com/VocusEU/OptOut.aspx?516828x522570x4759x2x325947x24000x6, BAA, 234 Bath Rd, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 5AP John Stewart, the Chair of campaign group HACAN, said, “The connection with BAA must caste doubt over the findings of this poll. I suspect that Future Heathrow commissioned this poll in order to try and boost the confidence of both BAA and the Government in advance of the forthcoming consultation on Heathrow expansion (2). BAA has had a terrible year and, in recent weeks, the Department for Transport has come under fire over night flights where it has been accused of trying to mislead the public on the actual number of planes using Heathrow at night.”
Stewart added, “The findings of this Future Heathrow poll are contradicted by earlier polls. It must raise the possibility that this is a rogue poll.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
(1). Last year the Mayor of London commissioned an opinion poll from ICM covering the boroughs of Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond, Hammersmith & Fulham, City of Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth and Lambeth.
(2). The Government is expected to consult on proposals to build a 3rd runway and end runway alternation next month.
For further information:
contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
