Forthcoming Public Meetings and Events
A growing number of campaign groups are organising events to show their opposition airport expansion, particularly at Heathrow. Here's your chance to join us and show the government what you think.
NoTRAG Archive - March 2009
The NoTRAG website has a new look...
...but you can still find your old favourites.
We now have a newspaper-style format to reflect the change in our campaign, which stepped up a gear when the government decided to push ahead with a third runway.
We've introduced new features on these pages but favourites like our community page are only a click away.
No Third Runway message reaches tens of thousands at Glastonbury
Date : Weekend 25th-28th June 2009
A No Third Runway film made by Greenpeace was shown before the main bands appearing on the massive Pyramid Stage during the Glastonbury Festival - attended by around 200,000 people.
The film, which showed scenes from No Third Runway events and included aerial views of Sipson, featured the music of Harmondsworth band Pig Earth.
This meant that everyone waiting to see Neil Young, Bruce Springstein and Blur heard Pig Earth's plea to "save this community" as the film was shown immediately before the headline act took to the stage.
Films by Greenpeace, WaterAid and Oxfam were played on the big screens because they are the three major causes supported by Glastonbury.
Glastonbury organiser Michael Eaves shares a joke with Sipson barmaid Tracy Howard.
New Ministerial Team at the Department of Transport
Date : Tuesday 16th June 2009
The dust has finally settled after the frenzy of activity that began with the revelations about MPs expenses.
Now it's easier to see the winners and losers in the manic game of musical chairs that Gordon Brown called a reshuffle.
Geoff Hoon's departure made way for Lord Andrew Adonis to become the Secretary of State for Transport.
The post of Minister of State for Transport goes to Sadiq Khan MP, who was a Human Rights solictor before entering parliament. It will be interesting to see if he respects the human rights of people adversely affected by the proposed Heathrow expansion.
Mr Khan will be attending Cabinet meetings when transport issues are discussed, since Lord Adonis does not sit in the House of Commons - as he was not elected and sits in the House of Lords.
Paul Clark MP has become Under Secretary of State for Transport, as has Chris Mole MP. It is understood that Mr Clark will be the man dealing with aviation.
Clark has stated that he supports a third runway at Heathrow. However, when there's the possibility of an Estuary airport in his own backyard, he suddenly expresses concern for the environment.
Former Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, who always looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights when questioned on TV about a third runway, has gone to Defra.
As for Geoff Hoon, he plans to leave the scandal of MPs expenses behind him and jump on the European gravy train.
Hoon and Darling - all smiles and smelling of roses after paying back some expenses petty cash.
Heathrow Noise Consultation - Will your comments fall on deaf ears?
Date : 15th June - 5th October 2009
A 16-week public consultation on noise has just begun but, after the third runway con-sultation, residents around Heathrow are wondering if it is worth taking part.
The European Union (EU) Directive requires all member states to draw up noise action plans for the busiest roads, railways and airports.
They should lay out how governments will cut noise. Astonishingly, but legally, the UK Government has asked the airports themselves to draw up the action plans for aircraft noise.
One plus of the plans is that the EU has forced airports to change the way that noise disturbance is assessed. This has resulted in BAA acknowledging that more than 700,000 people are affected by Heathrow's noise. BAA and the Government had previously claimed a figure of 300,000.
So can these 700,000 look forward to implementation of noise reduction methods? Frankly no, the directive allows the action plans to be ignored if the cost is considered excessive.
A closer look at the Heathrow Action Plan shows that it offers no more than minor measures that BAA would probably have implemented anyway.
While this looks like yet another box ticking exercise for the aviation industry, residents are keen to express their views about the incessent noise that blights their lives.
First of all you need to read the plan, which is available online. For a hard copy call: 020 8745 5791.
Public sessions are being held at Heathrow Academy (formerly The Visitors' Centre), Newall Road, Heathrow Airport, TW6 on 3rd August (1400-1700) and 2nd September (1700-2000).
NoTRAG has not issued guidelines on responding to the action plan but HACAN suggests simply outlining the following measures that could make a real difference:
A ban on night flights.
A steeper glideslope, particularly for arrivals.
The use of noise measurements based on World Health Organisation's recommended standards, which suggests a lower cut off point than 55 decibels.
The protection of existing quiet areas - giving respite to areas such as Osterley House.
Increase the amount of money available for mitigation measures.
The Consultation ends on 5th October 2009. By 30th November the Action plan will be submitted for adoption, with the final plan due to be published in early 2010.
Plane Stupid strikes at London's City Airport
Date : Wednesday 10th June 2009
As a tube strike crippled the capital and workers struggled to make their daily journey, jet-setting businessmen were inconvenienced by a Plane Stupid protest at London's City Airport.
Five members of the direct action group, dressed in pinstriped suits and bowler hats, managed to shut down operations at the airport's private jet centre.
In what they described as a 'Corporate Takeover', the Eco-activists entered at 2.30 am to cut through the perimeter fence and form a human wheel clamp around one of the airport’s business jet fleet at the west end of the runway.
The group did not use their normal tactic of locking themselves to structures because the process of cutting them free could have generated sparks near highly-flamable aviation fuel.
On a day when many of London's workers were packed onto what public transport was still running despite the RMT strike, there was little sympathy for people who use private jets.
The selfishness of this mode of travel was highlighted by the protesters. "Because of their low passenger capacity, small jets emit between five and 10 times more carbon per passenger than commercial flights,” said spokeswoman Nancy Birch. “In an age where we face potentially catastrophic climate change, this is no longer an acceptable form of transport. It’s time that private jets were grounded for good.”
Ms Birch also commented, “The aviation industry seems to think it can pollute its way out of climate change. But anyone with half a brain will know that this is just plane stupid.”
As part of this action, Plane Stupid pointed out that air pollution levels in Newham, where London City Airport is located, regularly exceed EU safety limits for highly toxic chemicals such as Nitrus Oxide. (A similar situation to the Heathrow area.) It says Newham has the highest levels of mortality in under 30s in the UK from asthma, a matter that AsthmaUK are currently investigating.
Payback time for Hoon and his "flipping" colleagues
Date : Tuesday 2nd June 2009
While Gordon Brown considers how to reshuffle his cabinet, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has decided to repay money he claimed on his designated second home.
Hoon claimed bills in advance for a full year on his Derbyshire property - but in the same year he claimed a different house was his second home.
It seems Hoon was so busy thinking how to destroy homes for a third runway that he forgot in which of his homes he was living at the time. He has apologised and blamed an "inadvertent administrative error".
The former Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, has also agreed to pay back money (£668), part of a £1,000 six-monthly service charge on a flat he moved out of two months later.
Darling, currently Chancellor, has said he is "very sorry" and had always tried to make sure he did the "right thing" during his time as an MP. So will he resign or step down? Gordon Brown says it was an inadvertent mistake - so we'll take that as a no.
Our Prime Minister clearly sees nothing wrong with Darling frequently "flipping" his homes (switching which property is declared as a second residence in order to claim maximum expenses).
He doesn't see the hypocrisy of Transport Ministers (Hoon, Darling, Kelly) insisting that people in Sipson and Harmondsworth lose their homes while they juggle properties and claim for luxurious furnishings.
Bizarrely Darling, now running the country's finances, has also claimed that he can't even manage his own tax affairs and has made the public pay for his tax advice from a colleague's husband.
In the run-up to Thursday's local and European elections, Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he was not "arrogant" or "unwilling to listen".
Campaigners against Heathrow expansion would say these words accurately describe a Prime Minister who ignores the facts about pollution and the cost of expansion - not to mention the result of a public consultation.
Home Secretary Jacquie Smith (whose husband apparently downloaded porn movies at the taxpayers' expense) is set to leave the cabinet. How many others will shuffle off with her?
Terminal 5 subsidence problems shrugged off by BAA
Date : Monday 1st June 2009
A phenomenon known as heave is said to be causing costly damage to the south side of Terminal 5 according to a report by The Daily Mail.
Heave, caused by swelling of the notoriously troublesome London Clay on which the terminal is built, has reportedly been causing tile damage and led to experts being called in to assess the situation.
The Daily Mail report claims that an engineer from a company involved in the initial construction has said that the movement is unlikely to be a short-term issue and could cause problems for several decades.
The engineer added that the problem has been exacerbated because T5 owner BAA had chosen a cheaper foundation design that is not as effective in guarding against heave as others.
BAA spokesperson Mary Kearney has insisted that some level of ground movement is to be expected in a building the size of Terminal 5 and was nothing to worry about.
However, during the construction of Terminal 5 NoTRAG had heard rumours of problems caused by the site and some construction workers had predicted future problems.
Environmental group Greenpeace has called for more information on the extent of the subsidence and any data BAA and the Government have on the effects of this as it will have an impact on the plans to build a sixth terminal nearby - on the site currently occupied by Sipson village.
Threatened villagers promote Airplot campaign at Glastonbury
Date : Weekend 25th-28th June 2009
Three residents fighting to save the Heathrow villages from a third runway accepted an invitation to promote Greenpeace's Airplot campaign at this year's Glastonbury festival.
Tracy, Jim and Christine pitched their tents in the Greenpeace field, behind scaled-down replicas of several Sipson buildings and a recreation of Airplot, the piece of land on the proposed development site that has been bought by Greenpeace to help oppose the planned airport expansion.
Each day, the villagers joined Greenpeace volunteers to explain the aims of the Airplot campaign and sign up people keen to become beneficiaries of the land.
Over four days the group signed up around 8,000 new supporters, taking the total number of Airplotters over 53,000.
Christine Taylor, vice Chair of NoTRAG said, "To follow the theme of opposition to airport expansion the Greenpeace field included, not just amazing replicas of local buildings but also an 'Out of Control Tower', Airport Departure Lounge, a huge plywood skeleton of an aircraft planted with flowers and a fully stocked allotment and mini orchard."
"So many people took an interest in the Airplot campaign and the local fight to save our homes. Even during torrential rain, people were keen to speak to us and sign up to offer support. At night, when the area was lit with runway lights, the Airplot site still looked amazing and continued to attract visitors."
Christine continued, "I can't thank Greenpeace enough for the work they put in to highlighting the damage Heathrow expansion would cause to our community and the world's climate."
Christine with pens and paper ready to sign up new Airplotters.
Local MP warns that taxpayer could be left with the bill for a third runway
Date : Tuesday 16th June 2009
If BAA goes bust the taxpayer could be left to pay the full cost of a third runway, warned Hayes and Harlington MP, John McDonnell, today.
Mr McDonnell asked for the proposals to be looked at again in light of the current economic situation.
BA staff asked to take pay cut while executives to pledge funds to evict residents
Date : Tuesday 16th June 2009
British Airways is asking thousands of staff to work for nothing, for up to one month, in a bid to help the airline survive. Yet executives are in talks with BAA to help fund the removal of Sipson and Harmondsworth residents for a third runway.
BA sent an email to more than 30,000 UK workers asking them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work.
Last month, BA posted a record annual loss of £401m. The airline's staff have had their pay frozen and more than 2,500 jobs have been axed since last summer.
To add to the airline's problems, cabin crew could walk out over plans to cut the 14,000 workforce by 2,000. They have also been asked to consider unpaid leave and part-time positions.
Meanwhile, ground staff have rejected proposals to cut pay or face compulsory redundancy.
Strike chaos looms this summer and, in the battle with unions, BA will claim to be in a "fight for survival". Despite this, the airline is in talks with BAA bosses who need money to buy up properties in the villages on the third runway site.
The Government has stated that BAA must pay to clear the demolition area regardless of its own debt problems. BAA must expect to obtain money from airlines as it has already announced that it plans to start buying properties shortly.
If the third runway is to go ahead the money must be found - even if that means more job losses.
To keep hold of his own job, BA chief executive Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000. He will also not take an annual bonus this year, reportedly foregoing up to will forgo up to £550,000 in shares. BA has since announced it will not award any cash bonuses.
Before you shed a tear for Willie, remember he will receive a basic salary of £674,000 and deferred shares worth around £40,000.
If he manages to meet his targets, despite the recession, he will be in line for £1.1million in 2012 under a long-term shares scheme.
Another one bites the dust - Transport Secretary Hoon moves on
Date : Friday 5th June 2009
Another day, another cabinet member (or two) shuffles off into the sunset. Today it was the turn of Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.
A Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, once said: "A week is a long time in politics" and certainly this week has seen some remarkable events with four cabinet members and two junior ministers suddenly quitting.
Only yesterday, Geoff Hoon was a guest on BBC2's The Daily Politics. He arrogantly thought that he could out-smart Andrew Neil on political history but came a cropper as Neil, equiped with a long memory and an earpiece to the gallery, was able to put him straight.
Neil then went in for the kill with some well-researched questions on expenses and house "flipping". Trying to defend the indefensible, Hoon only managed to make himself look even less likely to be in a job by the end of the week. However, when Neil asked if he planned to move in the reshuffle Hoon grinned and said he wasn't packing his bags.
Either he hadn't spotted Gordon sharpening the axe or someone else was clearing his desk!
"Don't worry dear, it's only a "flipping" transport job. Soon I'll be getting my expenses paid in Euros!"
Anti-airport expansion campaigners have seen numerous Transport Secretaries come and go but they will be particularly pleased to see the back of Buff-Hoon.
He treated the people under threat from Heathrow expansion with contempt. He refused to meet them and clearly couldn't be bothered to discover the facts for himself, relying on biased briefings from civil servants.
When Hoon eventually agreed to meet residents this spring, they discovered that they were part of a group of around 50 people from constituencies around London. It meant individuals had 90 seconds each to make a statement. Most chose to ask a question, but few got answers. No wonder Hoon didn't do his homework, he was too busy completing all those expenses forms.
His departure was welcomed by Greenpeace, whose executive director John Sauven said: "Geoff Hoon's resignation is an ideal opportunity for Labour to ditch its disastrous Heathrow policy and make a clean break from the past."
If the new Transport secretary, Lord Adonis, continues to back a third runway he will ensure Labour gets a thrashing in the general election in any constituency where airport expansion is proposed.