Seventy-five percent of the village would be leveled, rendering it an unviable community. The pubs and shops would close due to a lack of customers.
“The main road won’t have buses coming through because a runway obstructs it. It’s entirely detrimental for everyone involved.”
Justine Bayley is a resident of Harmondsworth, a village in Hillingdon, West London, which would face partial demolition to clear space for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Speaking to BBC London, she expressed that the expansion proposal lacks “realism,” particularly in light of the mayor’s commitment to curb pollution and noise levels.
“Sadiq Khan has been diligently working to enhance both issues in London. We’re part of London, and we wish to benefit from those improvements too,” she remarked.
“By increasing the number of flights and cars transporting people to the airport, both noise and pollution will rise.”
On Wednesday, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, affirmed government support for a third runway at Heathrow, stating it is “critically important.”
While Justine, who is associated with the campaign group Stop Heathrow Expansion, opposes the runway, some in London hold a different view.
Various business organizations argue that a third runway is essential for economic growth and job creation.
John Dickie from BusinessLDN noted that expanding the airport is crucial for retaining competitiveness and connectivity.
He emphasized, “Other cities across Europe and worldwide are outpacing us.”
“They are enhancing connectivity and increasing the number of cities they can reach directly, giving them a competitive edge over us. However, it goes beyond that.
“Anyone who has traveled from Heathrow recently knows the airport is operating at capacity.”
With the government’s approval for a third runway, several issues arise regarding costs, environmental repercussions, and the construction timeline.
A convoluted planning process is likely to follow, along with potential challenges from environmental activists.
While speaking to BBC Radio London during Reeves’s announcement, Sir Sadiq Khan reiterated his earlier opposition to the initiative, citing noise pollution, air quality, and climate change as significant concerns.
He stated, “In London, we have made significant strides in improving air quality—yet Heathrow remains one of the most polluted areas in the region.
“While I support economic growth, I do not endorse a new runway at Heathrow.”
