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| Local residents on Heathrow's third runway: 'I would lose my house, community and friends' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Heathrow will get a third runway after the government gave the go ahead on Tuesday, paving the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the airport in west London. | Heathrow will get a third runway after the government gave the go ahead on Tuesday, paving the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the airport in west London. |
| In a long-awaited response, ministers have endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway. The move comes six years after the Conservative-led coalition scrapped previous plans for a third runway at Heathrow. | In a long-awaited response, ministers have endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway. The move comes six years after the Conservative-led coalition scrapped previous plans for a third runway at Heathrow. |
| We asked readers living in the areas directly affected by the decision what they think. Here’s what some of them said. | We asked readers living in the areas directly affected by the decision what they think. Here’s what some of them said. |
| Those who agree with the proposed expansion: ‘I will have to move but so what?’ | Those who agree with the proposed expansion: ‘I will have to move but so what?’ |
| I’ve lived in Sipson for the last 20 years. I think it’s a good thing that a third runway is being built. I will have to move but so what? Nothing is permanent. The whole of the world wants to visit London, so why have planes hovering over the UK in circles waiting to land at Heathrow? Let us eliminate fuel waste over the UK skies and at the same time help the country’s economy. | I’ve lived in Sipson for the last 20 years. I think it’s a good thing that a third runway is being built. I will have to move but so what? Nothing is permanent. The whole of the world wants to visit London, so why have planes hovering over the UK in circles waiting to land at Heathrow? Let us eliminate fuel waste over the UK skies and at the same time help the country’s economy. |
| Jose, 70-year-old living in Sipson | Jose, 70-year-old living in Sipson |
| ‘My house would be under compulsory purchase but I still agree with the expansion’ | ‘My house would be under compulsory purchase but I still agree with the expansion’ |
| The country needs a third runway. My house would be under compulsory purchase if the runway goes ahead, meaning that the government would buy it and offer the current market value plus (I believe) 25% and moving costs. | The country needs a third runway. My house would be under compulsory purchase if the runway goes ahead, meaning that the government would buy it and offer the current market value plus (I believe) 25% and moving costs. |
| There are negatives though. We would include losing small villages and their history. As a resident in Harmondsworth you can’t plan for tomorrow. There is a continuous threat on our homes that needs to be lifted - the only way to do this is to agree to the proposals and put an end to it all. | There are negatives though. We would include losing small villages and their history. As a resident in Harmondsworth you can’t plan for tomorrow. There is a continuous threat on our homes that needs to be lifted - the only way to do this is to agree to the proposals and put an end to it all. |
| It should be noted that the majority of the publicity sought and the protesters do not live or have any connection to the villages affected. They do not give a true reflection of the individuals who have lived in the area for a number of years. | It should be noted that the majority of the publicity sought and the protesters do not live or have any connection to the villages affected. They do not give a true reflection of the individuals who have lived in the area for a number of years. |
| Anonymous, 53-year-old finance manager living in Harmondsworth | Anonymous, 53-year-old finance manager living in Harmondsworth |
| ‘A third runway means long term prospects for employment’ | ‘A third runway means long term prospects for employment’ |
| A third runway means long term prospects for employment. Though it would be built over my house I will get more money for it because of the compulsory buyout. | A third runway means long term prospects for employment. Though it would be built over my house I will get more money for it because of the compulsory buyout. |
| Amar Singh, 54-year-old working for British Airways at Heathrow and living in Sipson | Amar Singh, 54-year-old working for British Airways at Heathrow and living in Sipson |
| ‘All the noise is coming from a few, not the majority’ | ‘All the noise is coming from a few, not the majority’ |
| I would need to relocate but this won’t be a problem as long as the compulsory purchase is handled promptly. The need for airport expansion in the south east can only be achieved by expanding Heathrow. It would also create much-needed work in the area. | I would need to relocate but this won’t be a problem as long as the compulsory purchase is handled promptly. The need for airport expansion in the south east can only be achieved by expanding Heathrow. It would also create much-needed work in the area. |
| The problem for us residents is not knowing. I hear people complaining that the decision will rip the community to bits but all the noise is coming from a few, not the majority. | The problem for us residents is not knowing. I hear people complaining that the decision will rip the community to bits but all the noise is coming from a few, not the majority. |
| Anonymous, 55-year-old living in Harmondsworth | Anonymous, 55-year-old living in Harmondsworth |
| ‘The kids love seeing the planes go over them’ | ‘The kids love seeing the planes go over them’ |
| I’m used to the noise so don’t feel I will be affect at all. I lived for 15 years in Cranford and loved being under the flight path. The kids love seeing the planes go over them. We then lived in Bedfont for 10 years which gave the kids a better view. Now we live in Harmondsworth. I still wouldn’t move away from the airport evan if I was paid to do so! | I’m used to the noise so don’t feel I will be affect at all. I lived for 15 years in Cranford and loved being under the flight path. The kids love seeing the planes go over them. We then lived in Bedfont for 10 years which gave the kids a better view. Now we live in Harmondsworth. I still wouldn’t move away from the airport evan if I was paid to do so! |
| Heathrow is a big hub with new jobs from the third runway bringing in thousands of pounds. Also people will come here to rent and buy properties which will be good for the area. | Heathrow is a big hub with new jobs from the third runway bringing in thousands of pounds. Also people will come here to rent and buy properties which will be good for the area. |
| Indy, working at Heathrow and living in Harmondsworth | Indy, working at Heathrow and living in Harmondsworth |
| Those who disagree with the proposed expansion: ‘Our home wouldn’t be worth enough to buy another inside the M25’ | Those who disagree with the proposed expansion: ‘Our home wouldn’t be worth enough to buy another inside the M25’ |
| Having finally managed to get on the housing ladder my home would become unliveable if the third runway is built. My village is at the end of the proposed third runway, meaning it would be flown over at close proximity every 30 seconds when it is in use. | Having finally managed to get on the housing ladder my home would become unliveable if the third runway is built. My village is at the end of the proposed third runway, meaning it would be flown over at close proximity every 30 seconds when it is in use. |
| Heathrow have said they will extend the terms of the compulsory purchase to people in our village, but our houses are not worth enough to enable us to buy another house inside the M25 even with what Heathrow would pay us. So we would have to move out of London or back into rented accommodation. We bought this property on the back of David Cameron’s “no ifs, no buts” promise. I guess that’s what you get for trusting a Tory. | Heathrow have said they will extend the terms of the compulsory purchase to people in our village, but our houses are not worth enough to enable us to buy another house inside the M25 even with what Heathrow would pay us. So we would have to move out of London or back into rented accommodation. We bought this property on the back of David Cameron’s “no ifs, no buts” promise. I guess that’s what you get for trusting a Tory. |
| As far as I’m concerned there aren’t any positives. The model of hub airports is already considered dated by many in the aviation industry. Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe. It already exceeds limits on air and noise pollution. It already ignores limits on night flights. Heathrow has no intention of becoming a better neighbour. | As far as I’m concerned there aren’t any positives. The model of hub airports is already considered dated by many in the aviation industry. Heathrow is the busiest airport in Europe. It already exceeds limits on air and noise pollution. It already ignores limits on night flights. Heathrow has no intention of becoming a better neighbour. |
| Anonymous, 31-year-old living in Harlington | Anonymous, 31-year-old living in Harlington |
| ‘There are no positives - only negatives’ | ‘There are no positives - only negatives’ |
| I would lose my home, travel expenses would rise, there would be a loss of green land, and a loss of local schools. There are no positives - only negatives. Please do not expand Heathrow for the sake of crushing the local community. | I would lose my home, travel expenses would rise, there would be a loss of green land, and a loss of local schools. There are no positives - only negatives. Please do not expand Heathrow for the sake of crushing the local community. |
| Resident, 38-year-old working at Heathrow and living in Sipson | Resident, 38-year-old working at Heathrow and living in Sipson |
| ‘Heathrow can’t decide whether they want our house or not’ | ‘Heathrow can’t decide whether they want our house or not’ |
| The government is so indecisive about this issue. I can’t plan for my families future which is frustrating as my daughter will be going to secondary school in the next few years. We can’t sell the house that we bought here based on David Cameron’s “no if, no buts” claim. | The government is so indecisive about this issue. I can’t plan for my families future which is frustrating as my daughter will be going to secondary school in the next few years. We can’t sell the house that we bought here based on David Cameron’s “no if, no buts” claim. |
| House prices are rising around us a lot more than ours because the lovely village is blighted by the airport expansion discussion. Heathrow can’t decide whether they want our house or not. We’ve had letters saying no but the plans they showed us indicate that they do. If the decision is a yes from the government, this will still go on for years with people and councils fighting it through the courts. | House prices are rising around us a lot more than ours because the lovely village is blighted by the airport expansion discussion. Heathrow can’t decide whether they want our house or not. We’ve had letters saying no but the plans they showed us indicate that they do. If the decision is a yes from the government, this will still go on for years with people and councils fighting it through the courts. |
| For me, the negatives of a third runway would include taxpayers’ money being used to subsidise runway costs and infrastructure. Air pollution ia already not meeting EU limits and noise pollution will affect more people. If it’s such a no brainer to expand Heathrow why has it taken so long? | For me, the negatives of a third runway would include taxpayers’ money being used to subsidise runway costs and infrastructure. Air pollution ia already not meeting EU limits and noise pollution will affect more people. If it’s such a no brainer to expand Heathrow why has it taken so long? |
| Mr A Hudson, 38-year-old living in Harmondsworth | Mr A Hudson, 38-year-old living in Harmondsworth |
| ‘I would lose my house, community and friends’ | ‘I would lose my house, community and friends’ |
| There are absolutely no positives to a third runway being built. I would lose my house, community and friends. I will also lose my allotment of 600 sq m with no compensation. Those who stay will be liable to a reduced life expectancy due to the noise and particulate pollution. | There are absolutely no positives to a third runway being built. I would lose my house, community and friends. I will also lose my allotment of 600 sq m with no compensation. Those who stay will be liable to a reduced life expectancy due to the noise and particulate pollution. |
| Eagle Phil, 65-year-old IT consultant with IBM living in Harmondsworth | Eagle Phil, 65-year-old IT consultant with IBM living in Harmondsworth |
| ‘I am old enough that I hope I never see it built’ | ‘I am old enough that I hope I never see it built’ |
| My family have lived in the area for generations. I lived through the war in this house and still have the shelter in the garden. When I was young we would walk across, what is now the airport, to visit relatives. | My family have lived in the area for generations. I lived through the war in this house and still have the shelter in the garden. When I was young we would walk across, what is now the airport, to visit relatives. |
| When the Conservatives said they’d scrap the runway, Heathrow bought lots of homes and filled them with tenants. This time round we are not in any scheme to buy homes. They have even drawn a line around our road so about 70 homes are inside the airport. It would be better to be dead than live in that nightmare. I am old enough that I hope I never see it. | When the Conservatives said they’d scrap the runway, Heathrow bought lots of homes and filled them with tenants. This time round we are not in any scheme to buy homes. They have even drawn a line around our road so about 70 homes are inside the airport. It would be better to be dead than live in that nightmare. I am old enough that I hope I never see it. |
| There are no positives. Expanding Heathrow will destroy a huge area and around 10,000 people will have to find somewhere else to live. My children and grandchildren will have to move away. The pollution and noise means most people would feel forced to go if they can, even the airport workers will leave but will drive back every day making the roads worse. Only the elderly and tenants who can’t afford anywhere else would be left. Even nice places like Windsor are ruined now due to aircraft noise. | There are no positives. Expanding Heathrow will destroy a huge area and around 10,000 people will have to find somewhere else to live. My children and grandchildren will have to move away. The pollution and noise means most people would feel forced to go if they can, even the airport workers will leave but will drive back every day making the roads worse. Only the elderly and tenants who can’t afford anywhere else would be left. Even nice places like Windsor are ruined now due to aircraft noise. |
| Life-long resident, 85-year-old living in Sipson | Life-long resident, 85-year-old living in Sipson |
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