Read also: New runway would mean demolition of 3,000 homes and a new flight path over Brentford, Chiswick and Hammersmith


The consultation on the Third Runway has now been extended by the Department of Transport until 30 June 2003. For more information about this consultation: The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: A National Consultation.


Bellow, the letter from Brackenbury Residents Association:
"Dear Sir,
I am responding on behalf of the Brackenbury Residents Association to the consultation on The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East. The Brackenbury Residents Association represents approximately 250 members in Hammersmith Broadway and Ravenscourt Park wards of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Our members are very concerned about the proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow.

First, the increased capacity at Heathrow (estimated to almost double the current passenger number) will have a significant impact on traffic and congestion in Hammersmith and Fulham - and West London in general. Our current road, bus, rail and tube provisions are often at, or above, capacity resulting in congestion and delays. The increased number of journeys to and from Heathrow will only add to an already overly congested situation. The consultation document acknowledges these problems and the difficulty of addressing these concerns

Second, we already suffer excessive amounts of noise from overflying aircraft. A third runway and consequent increase in number of flights will further exacerbate the situation. We are particularly concerned about night flights that cause major disturbance to many local residents.

Third, increasing the number of flights and the amount of ground congestion in West London will result in increased pollution levels and a further deterioration in our air quality. This will have serious consequences for the health of local residents, likely resulting in increased asthma cases and respiratory ailments, particularly in children and the elderly.

Finally, increasing the number of flights over West London, one of the most densely populated areas of the UK, raises serious safety concerns. A catastrophic failure of an aircraft on the Heathrow flight path has the potential to cause very large numbers of casualties. Increasing the number of aircraft in this airspace can only increase the risk.

For these reasons we would urge you to avoid any option that involves a third runway or further capacity increases at Heathrow.

Yours sincerely,

Sophie Stewart
Hon. Secretary
Brackenbury Residents Association"

The Brackenbury Residents Association has responded to the consultation urging government to avoid any option that involves a third runway or further capacity increases at Heathrow. BRA represents approximately 250 members in Hammersmith Broadway and Ravenscourt Park. Their main concerns are:

- The impact on traffic and congestion in Hammersmith and Fulham - and West London in general: "The increased number of journeys to and from Heathrow will only add to an already overly congested situation".

- The increase of noise from overflying aircraft, already considered excessive: "We are particularly concerned about night flights that cause major disturbance to many local residents".

- The increased of pollution levels and a further deterioration in our air quality: "This will have serious consequences for the health of local residents, likely resulting in increased asthma cases and respiratory ailments, particularly in children and the elderly".

- Safety: "A catastrophic failure of an aircraft on the Heathrow flight path has the potential to cause very large numbers of casualties. Increasing the number of aircraft in this airspace can only increase the risk".

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