Fresh chances to have your say on Heathrow expansion

8.32.58pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 10th Feb 2008

• AN urgent reminder about two fresh opportunities to have your say about Heathrow expansion, ahead of the Government's deadline for comments, has been issued by Richmond Council this week.

The first is at a public meeting being held by the Council at Clarendon Hall, York House, on Tuesday February 12, starting 7pm. A similar meeting held by the Council at Duke Street Church last month drew a packed audience of around 500 - and the Council expects another excellent turnout at next week's event. HACAN Clearskies will be holding an exhibition at Clarendon Hall from 6pm on the day. Also, a mass rally against Heathrow expansion is being held at Central Hall, in Storey's Gate, Westminster, on Monday February 25 at 7pm. The rally is being organised by HACAN and the 2M Group, an alliance of local authorities fighting airport expansion. Leader of Richmond Council, Cllr Serge Lourie, who will chair Tuesday's meeting, said:

"If the attendance at last month's public meeting is anything to go by, Tuesday's event promises to be packed to the rafters! This all underlines the huge groundswell of opposition to the Government's plans, which would see flights increase by nearly 50 per cent and Heathrow expanded by the size of another Gatwick. I hope residents turn out in force at the public meeting and the rally to air their views on these proposals in a huge show of defiance. This expansion is not inevitable. It is a battle that can be won."