Heathrow expansion

[MotherEarth15]

I wonder if anybody realizes what is going to happen if George Osborne decides to build 3rd runway at Heathrow? There will be 250 000 planes more per year, flying over London. More noise and pollution. Official flight paths had not been published as this would be too alarming, but the planes are mostly flying from East to West over densely populated areas. We are sleepwalking into this misery. There are groups opposing the expansion in Teddington, Richmond and Twickenham, hopefully also somewhere else. A petition is available on
www.change.org/p/secretary-of-state-for-transport-no-third-runway-at-heathrow

Are we going to let this happen?

I sincerely hope not. I'm under the arrivals flight path and currently get noise peaking at between 89 and 110 decibels every 60-90 seconds from 4:30 am until 23:30. It's torture as it is, and has got much worse in the 16 years I've lived here. If it got even worse I'd shoot myself.

you've got no choice if the powers-that-be decide to do it. There's a campaign running against Gatwick expansion - and another running FOR it!

we should not expand our airports at all. There's no benefit in providing a hub, people just fly in and fly out with no extra trade or spending in the UK. Enough is enough.

admit I've done a lot of flying. There's always space on the plane.

this, I'm afraid, was just one consideration in leaving the south-east.

that petition is closed BTW.

Totally agree re the hub argument being a load of rubbish. Even Willie Walsh says it's not needed. And as you say we'll get all the downsides while seeing none of the money. There's already under-used capacity at other airports in the UK. The whole thing is about greedy vested interests making even more £ while hundreds of thousands lead blighted lives that are shortened by noise and air pollution.

I'm on a gatwick flight path, and I don't notice the noise, but my town is up in arms about the potential expansion. I moved here from central London though where you couldn't hear planes for all the police sirens...

London has 7 runways. Heathrow owners, 90% foreign (who do not live in London nor under the flight path), created the myth of London needing a new runway. Connect the dots and you get... money. What is sad is the fact that Government and especially George Osborn think its okay for us to have more aircraft noise and air pollution. Heathrow owners splashed 2 millions of pounds on advertising, telling people that we need the expansion. But that doesn't make it true. Please sign this petition (this one is open): www.change.org/p/the-prime-minister-and-the-chancellor-of-the-exchequer-no-3rd-runway-at-heathrow
Every little helps :-) Thank you!

Absolutely hit the nail on the head, Mother .