Meeting Presentation slides here

Press release from EGAG – (Englefield Green Action Group)

3rd April 2017

For immediate use

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Phillip Hammond, advises village not to be complacent on Heathrow.

At a packed public meeting on Friday evening (31 March), local MP Phillip Hammond told an audience of over 300 constituents that despite the government’s backing of Heathrow expansion, he would join the community pressing for “robust safeguards” to mitigate the impact of a third runway on the local area. Mr. Hammond reminded constituents that the recommendation by the Government to support expansion at Heathrow was made on the basis of recommendations made by the Airports Commission being delivered. These measures include noise and air pollution targets and a night flight ban.

The Chancellor accepted that changes in flight paths could also have a major impact on communities such as Englefield Green and residents should urgently respond to the consultations set up by the Department of Transport to express their views on airspace changes.

The local community group (EGAG) made it clear that they were not against an active and vibrant Heathrow but against its expansion. Many residents had moved to the area on the reasonable expectation that the government had stated that there would not be a third runway. Many constituents acknowledged at the meeting that this appeared to be another broken promise. Given airlines had already moved planes nearer the village and at a lower height, confidence that commitments once a third runway was finally agreed was low.

Bob McLellan, spokesperson for Englefield Green Action Group, said: “The fact that Phillip Hammond had taken time to come and speak to the community and that so many had turned up was significant and a clear indication that there are many concerns about a third runway at Heathrow. It was time that moderates stood up and were counted and not allow government and corporate interests of the airline industry to overwhelm local communities.”

The Department for Transport’s two consultations on Heathrow expansion and airspace change run until 25^th May 2017.

Ends.

1. Pictures available on request

For more information, contact Bob McLellan: [email protected] 07876446837.

 

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You will already be aware from previous note of the event in EG with Philip Hammond on 31/3. This event is already 2/3rds full. If you are interested in attending please book your space now at Eventbrite OR directly to [email protected] (specifying numbers of spaces requested).*