Strong local support for Heathrow expansion

Strong local support for expansion as Heathrow announces second phase of consultation

• Results of first local polling since Parliament’s vote approving Heathrow’s expansion are released
• Regular polling since 2015 shows more local people support expansion than oppose it
• Airport announces January and June consultations for 2019 to develop plans for an expanded Heathrow

New Populus polling released by Heathrow today shows support for the airport’s expansion plan remains strong in local communities. The polling results come as Heathrow confirms its second phase of consultation will start in the New Year. Building upon its first consultation in early 2018, Heathrow will hold two further consultations in January and June 2019, where local people will be able to have their say on the airport’s plans for expansion.​

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The Populus results released today are taken from the first local poll conducted since June’s landmark parliamentary vote on the Airports National Policy Statement, where a majority of local MPs voted in favour of expanding Heathrow. The latest polling confirms what regular polling has shown since 2015 – that more local people support Heathrow’s expansion than oppose it.​

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The polling shows that in the Prime Minister’s own constituency, Maidenhead, a majority (56%) of residents support expansion. This support grew by 6% from the start of 2018, in which time opposition to the airport’s expansion dropped by 1% to 27%.​

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In total, over 12,500 residents from the constituencies of Maidenhead, Spelthorne, Brentford & Isleworth, Feltham & Heston, Windsor, Uxbridge & South Ruislip, Slough, Esher & Walton, Hayes & Harlington, Beaconsfield, Ealing Central & Acton, Ealing North, Ealing Southall, Richmond Park and Twickenham were interviewed for the poll.​

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Local residents will continue to have significant opportunities next year to help shape the airport’s plans for expansion including where future flight paths might be positioned. The first consultation, taking place in January, will focus on future airspace design options, runway operations and the airport’s plans for sustainable growth. The consultation responses from this and Heathrow’s first consultation held earlier this year will then feed into a further consultation in June, where views will be sought on the proposed scheme for expansion and how Heathrow will manage and mitigate the effects of this growth on local communities.​

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Emma Gilthorpe, Executive Director of Expansion said:​

“This polling shows that thousands of local people recognise the benefits expansion will bring, including jobs and apprenticeships, and the steps we have taken to deliver growth sustainably. It also shows we have more work to do to assure our neighbours we have plans to address the negative impacts of a third runway.​

Next year’s consultations will be an important opportunity for our neighbours to speak to us directly, so they can help shape and improve our expansion plans and deliver an expanded Heathrow we can all be proud of.”​

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Heathrow Airport​

 

On balance and solely from a personal and probably selfish point of view I support LHR expansion as it's very handy for me to get to for long haul with its huge range of destinations, although like most very large airports that I've come across it's not a particularly pleasant experience for the passenger.

I'm always cautious when polls are commissioned by an organisation as appears to be the case with LHR and Populus. The results often tend to reflect the commissioning body's viewpoint. The way questions are worded is very important.

It's the same with airports commissioning 'independent' studies which often tell airports what they want to hear. For example, Bristol Airport's study (by aviation consultants York Aviation) found that APD devolution to Wales would hit BRS hard with a substantial loss of routes, passengers and jobs. The Welsh Government commissioned a study that found York's findings were grossly exaggerated.

 

I would expect a love hate relationship with the airport. If you live in the area, the airport is vital to the local economy and if you work there it's in your interests to support the growth of the airport even if you think it's large and busy enough.

If you live further away you could argue that Heathrow is taking away business and jobs from the regions, on the other hand, foreign visitors and investors will always look to London before branching out into the regions.

My personal view is whilst the airport is choked, business is draining to larger regional airports whilst other smaller regional airports continue to suffer. It's difficult to say whether there would be a noticeable change to regional economies when Heathrow gets it's third runway.