CHATR Slams Lack Of Information On New Flight Paths

Residents affected 'will find out too late' only after final consent

Chiswick Against The Third Runway (CHATR) has said it is "unacceptable" that the details of the proposed new flight paths are not part of the Heathrow Airport consultation document published this week.

Heathrow has launched a three month consultation into its plans for a controversial third runway which it hopes to open in 2026. The consultation includes proposals to build the new runway over the M25 as well plans to re-route local rivers, replace utilities and bring in changes to the road network.

CHATR say in their statement: "The documents published this week by Heathrow describe a huge project to deliver an enormous undertaking, equivalent to building a new airport the size of Gatwick alongside today’s Heathrow Airport. The scale of environmental degradation and destruction is monumental.

"Amidst all the detail, however, you will not discover the location of the proposed new flight paths. It seems these will be decided after any final go ahead from the Secretary of State. This is clearly unacceptable. We believe this is fundamentally dishonest, since the hundreds of thousands of people affected will not discover until after planning consent – by which time it will be too late.

"Heathrow, in conjunction with the air traffic controllers, is still working the flight paths up following an airspace consultation earlier this year. A further consultation on flight paths is expected in 2021 when the detailed routes will be revealed.

"CHATR urges all those opposed to the Third Runway - and the additional 25,000 flights which Heathrow are hoping to introduce in just three years – to keep up the pressure and momentum. Write to your MP, write to the next Prime Minister and respond to the Heathrow Consultation."

We have asked Heathrow Airport for comment and will report back when we get it.

June 25, 2019