‘If a third runway is built at Heathrow, my house will be directly under the flight path. It would mean a massive increase in noise and pollution.
The area already has the highest rates of asthma in London because of the air pollution and any expansion will just make this worse.
At the moment there is a policy of “alteration” which means different flight paths are used to give people a break from the noise.
But there is a plan to do away with this so the noise and pollution would be constant.
Any expansion would also mean a huge rise in traffic congestion, which is already a problem.
I live eight miles from Heathrow. People living closer are in an even worse position – the expansion threatens to demolish 1,000 homes.
The government seems intent on steamrollering over opposition – if big business demands airport expansion it seems it is ready to give in.
But everyone I know is against expansion.
Our campaign has had lots of huge public meetings – we had one with 1,000 people just in our local area. We’re now building up to the demonstration on 31 May.
I think the campaign to stop Heathrow expansion will be a long campaign and we’ll need to involve more people in direct action against it if we’re going to win.’
Richard Brackenbury is involved in the campaign against Heathrow expansion in west London.
To get involved in the campaign, or for more information go to » www.campaigncc.org
Thousands of residents in London have been without water for months
The climate crisis is impossible to ignore
The human cost of the heatwaves are higher than the temperature
Divide and rule was used to undermine struggle
