The Seven 'Hurdles' To Heathrow Airport Expansion

Chiswick Town Hall is venue for launch of new campaign against third runway

Chatr protest image from HACAN

CHATR (Chiswick Against The Third Runway) has launched its latest campaign against Heathrow airport expansion, called the Heathrow Hurdles Campaign, today (Monday, February 22nd), at Chiswick Town Hall, along with other anti-third runway groups such as HACAN.

Campaigners illustrated the obstacles to a new runway by unveiling seven 7ft high hurdles each representing a key barrier to a third runway:cost, noise, air pollution, public opposition, community destruction, climate change and security. 

“These are hurdles that we believe Heathrow can never jump’ said Hamish Pringle who created the ‘Hurdles Campaign’ for HACAN. ‘

The hurdles will also be illustrated on billboards on an Advan which will be at the launch before touring the streets of London and the South East for three days.  It will include a visit to Willesden Magistrates Court on Wednesday 24th February where the Plane Stupid activists who occupied the runway at Heathrow are to be sentenced.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, the main organisation behind the launch, said, “There are so many hurdles in the way of building a third runway that we believe it is simply not deliverable.  The aim of this short campaign is to get this message across to the Government loud and clear.  We will also be emailing all MPs spelling out the reasons why a third runway may never see the light of day.”

Stewart added, “Some of the obstacles, such as noise and pollution, are well-known but today we can reveal that a third runway at Heathrow could end up costing a family of four over £400 The airport would pay for the runway itself but much of the cost of the associated road and rail infrastructure would fall on the taxpayer.”

The campaign has been developed by CHATR for HACAN with support from many other local groups opposed to a third runway including Airport Watch, Ealing Aircraft Noise Action Group, Communities Against Increased Aircraft Noise, Residents Action Group Elmbridge, Stop Heathrow Expansion, Teddington Action Group, and The Bedford Park Society.

For more information about CHATR please contact:

Website: www.chatr.org.uk

Twitter: @CHATR_Heathrow

Email: chatr@gmail.com

February 22, 2016