Spelthorne Council continues to support the expansion of Heathrow, subject to appropriate consideration being given to environmental matters such as noise and transport.
Heathrow currently has problems and needs to be improved. Shutting it is not a consideration as there is no viable alternative which would not leave 70,000 people who work inside the airport redundant. Many of these people currently live in Spelthorne – around 26% of the economically active residents.
The problems that need addressing include the following:
delays
cancellations
lost luggage and
noise
Many cancellations are caused by delays and these can only be overcome through the provision of another runway. Similarly, bags go missing when flights are shunted from flight to flight with too little time to ensure they have been correctly moved. Another runway would solve that too. It would also reduce the need for ‘mixed mode’ working – meaning that flights would be over existing flight paths with no let up.
Improving the airport would mean that it would remain competitive, keep the routes it already has and gain some more. Currently it is losing out to other airports – including Brussels and Paris - very rapidly and businesses are re-locating as Heathrow no longer meets their needs.
Clearly there is a balance to be struck between a vibrant and successful airport and nuisance to the neighbouring community and we need to be sure that this is tackled. Already noise levels have reduced with more efficient and less noisy aircraft.
Spelthorne Council Leader, Councillor John Packman said: “It would be folly, at this point of national and global financial downturn, to deny Spelthorne residents the opportunity to benefit from the prosperity that the airport brings to the local community and, potentially, weaken it further”.
For more information, contact the Communications team on 01784 444260 or 01784 446297.
