The depth of feeling against the plans for a third runway to be built at Heathrow is becoming more than clear now. A legal battle is on the verge of being launched to try and stop the plans from actually going ahead.
The plans – if they do go ahead – will result in a village disappearing altogether as the necessary land is bulldozed to make way for the runway. A number of celebrities have joined the opposition which includes many householders who would be affected by the runway.
A group has been formed that will stand up against the Government’s plans, and it is thought to be one of the biggest and most comprehensive of its kind. A grand total of twenty three local councils have formed part of the group, along with various other organisations including Greenpeace. The London Mayor Boris Johnson has also lent his support to the effort.
Whenever any kind of airport extension is proposed, there is always a degree of opposition to it from one quarter or another. But the situation at Heathrow is rather different from anything we have seen before. There is a real feeling that the Government may have gone too far in trying to expand this particular airport.
Of course the chief concern for many people is the eradication of the nearby Sipson village. Greenpeace even went so far as to buy some land near the village, which they are certain they will never sell. This could make things difficult for the planners and those who are in charge of making the runway happen. You can read more information about this story here.
But those who are vehemently opposed to the runway are also concerned about the noise it would create. Of course those in favour are pointing to the new jobs it would create, not to mention the greatly enhanced service that Heathrow could offer. But that doesn’t count for much when you are living underneath the flight path of the aeroplanes each and every day.
It will be interesting to see what happens with regard to the legal challenge. If the review does take place as people hope it will, we may not see it actually happen until next year. And if it is deemed to be the wrong decision then the Government could find itself in a very sticky mess. Its decision to go ahead with the runway is thought by many to be the wrong one, and if their decision is overturned one wonders what they will do then.
They certainly have grand plans to develop Heathrow Airport and many other airports too. If their plans for Heathrow are shot down, what will happen to the ideas they have for other areas? Will they need to be looked at again as well?
The whole country is likely to be watching to see what the result is going to be – but no one more we suspect than the people who live in Sipson.