Borough welcomes EU warnings against Heathrow expansion

12.08.14pm GMT Wed 3rd Sep 2008

• Richmond Council has praised the European Union for its stance against the expansion of Heathrow airport.

On Monday, the organisation warned that plans for a third runway will "significantly breach air pollution guidelines". The European commissioner for the environment, Stavros Dimas, added that an expanded Heathrow will lead to the airport missing nitrogen oxide targets set by the EU for 2015, which is the latest possible date for guidelines to be met. Heathrow airport is already breaching UK and EU legal limits for levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Richmond Council's Leader, Cllr Serge Lourie, said: "We are hugely supportive of the European Union's warning against a third runway at Heathrow airport. This is yet another voice joining the chorus against the expansion. Local authorities and residents are overwhelmingly united in their opposition to a third runway and the extra noise and pollution it would create. The government should listen to this clear message."

Richmond Council has been protesting against plans for a third runway since they were unveiled in November last year. If approved, the new flight path for takeoffs would pass close to Whitton, Twickenham, St Margarets and Kew, increasing the number of flights at Heathrow from 480,000 a year to more than 720,000, with over 19,000 people in the borough enduring increased noise misery as a result. The Council's position is shared by other local authorities including Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Lambeth, and Hillingdon Councils and the GLA. The government has delayed its recommendation on a third runway until the end of the year while it analyses feedback from over 70,000 individuals and organisations consulted on the expansion.