Noisy protest gives runway warning
MP and anti-expansion campaigners play aircraft sounds matching planned frequency
A VAN reminding David Cameron of his promise for no third runway at Heathrow made noise in Harmondsworth during a three-day protest across London and Surrey.
Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell joined campaigners and villagers who face losing their homes at the stop at Harmondsworth Village Green on Friday, December 4.
The Advan, displaying the Prime Minister with his promise of ‘no ifs, no buts, no third runway’ was accompanied by screaming aircraft noise played at intervals matching the frequency residents would hear, if the expansion were to go ahead.
Speaking over the din at the Harmondsworth stop, Mr McDonnell said: “The noise that we’re hearing now pales into insignificance in comparison to what it would be if a third runway went ahead.
“You can imagine our children being taught in local schools having to stop teaching every 60 seconds as a result of the noise.”
The Labour shadow chancellor told villagers that he would take legal action if the government decision was a ‘yes’ to a third runway.
He said: “I’m confident, just as last time, we’ll be able to win that legal action. And we’ll set them back again.
“There is no way the third runway will be built. There’s no way that we’ll allow them to blight our homes and demolish our homes and render 10,000 people potentially homeless,
“Today is one more step in the campaign that we will be victorious in and we must maintain our determination to campaign against what is, I think, is potentially one
I’m confident, just as last time, we’ll be able to win that legal
action”
of the worst developments that will impact upon our environment that the government could thrust upon us.”
Christine Taylor, of Stop Heathrow Expansion (SHE), a sponsor of the Advan, said the campaign was to make people aware of the issues they are facing.
She said: “All these campaign groups are as angry as we were. It’s awareness that we’re still fighting and we’re not giving up on this.”
Armelle Thomas is fighting to keep her home in the village which her late husband Tommy ‘fell in love with’ when he first moved there in 1964.
Tommy Thomas, 93, was an air gunner involved in secretive and dangerous night-time mail pick-up operations during World War Two, and Armelle will be carrying his picture on every third runway demonstration, as he fought for his country and to keep his beloved home.
Mrs Thomas said: “We are working together to save this village because if we lose our battle here, it will be generations of Londoners who will actually lose their right to sleep and the noise and pollution will affect their children and their children’s children.
“Tommy did not go into the air force as a volunteer at 17-and-ahalf to actually leave that kind of legacy.”