Having considered a report issued to members of the Policy Advisory Group in October 2005 on the Heathrow Airport Interim Master Plan (draft for consultation), and the views expressed by the PAG, South Bucks District Council has decided to respond to the British Airports Authority at Heathrow, making a number of points in order that these matters could be taken into account in the preparation of the next version of the Master Plan. These points are summarised as follows:
The airport is located extremely close to South Bucks and has a number of very significant and adverse environmental effects on the residents in the District. The Council is vehemently opposed to further environmental damage adversely affecting residents and others, and wishes to see major improvements in the existing situation.
Scenario 1 – Heathrow with two runways and five terminals
Whilst there is a lot of emphasis on ensuring that a third runway would be built only if the strict environmental limits for air quality and noise are met, it is essential that these same limits are met whether or not a third runway is built. It is a major concern that BAA's target of 40% of passengers travelling to and from the airport using public transport has not yet been met. The expected rise in passenger levels will only lead to additional pressure on the already congested transport system around the airport.
Scenario 2 – Heathrow with a third runway and a sixth terminal
The Council remains firmly of the view that a third runway (together with a sixth terminal) would have major adverse environmental effects of the residents of South Bucks and would be unacceptable because of this.
There is a distinct lack of any detail in the Plan as to how BAA proposes to meet the strict environmental limits that have been placed on Heathrow. Furthermore, there would be other major knock-on implications in the sub-region, including major problems in terms of the supply of labour to operate and service new facilities and so further pressure for residential development in the area to the west of London.
The Council wishes to see major improvements in terms of BAA securing an actual reduction in the environmental effects of Heathrow. These include air quality and noise, and securing major improvements to public transport to and from the airport, with no further increases in the numbers of people accessing the airport by private car. The Interim Master Plan does not demonstrate these will be met.
Mixed mode runways
The Council considers that there may well be safety and environmental concerns regarding the use of mixed mode runways, and accordingly it will be important that the future consultation on this incorporates a full sustainability appraisal of all of the potential impacts of such a proposal.
Jeremy Houdret
SBDC Planning Policy Portfolio Holder
