Indians happy about plan for new runway

LONDON The British government’s decision on Tuesday to clear a third runway at Heathrow prompted the resignation of a ruling Conservative MP and exposed divisions within the cabinet, but Indians living around the busy airport hailed it.

Successive governments postponed a decision on the sensitive issue for more than a decade, but the Theresa May government said it opted for Heathrow instead of Gatwick or other London airports to send the message that it was open for business after the June 23 vote to exit the European Union.

As political parties and stakeholders reiterated their known positions for and against the third runway, Indian community leaders said they saw it as an employment opportunity for the large Indian and Asian community living around Heathrow.

Many members of the Indian community are already employed at various levels in Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports.

Welcoming the decision Harsev Bains of the Indian Work ers Association told Hindustan Times: “The Indian diaspora, his torically located in Southall, west London due to the proximity of Heathrow, have come to rely heavily on key employers at Heathrow airport after the demise of manufacturing indus try under years of Tories rule under the premiership of the late Margaret Thatcher.

“Local businesses and reli gious institutions will benefit from increased tourism in the area,” Bains said.

Senior Labour MP Virendra Sharma said: “I’ve changed my mind on the Heathrow expansion for the simple reason that Heath row have engaged, listened and changed their plans. Now that Heathrow has accepted the Air ports Commission conditions west London can say ‘yes’ to the jobs, apprenticeships and invest ment that expansion will bring.”

“Heathrow is the backbone of the west London economy and now that there is... appropriate compensation for local communi ties, I’m pleased the government have made the right decision.”