Inside a crimson telephone box in the village of Harmondsworth, a notice informs residents of plans to demolish it within 90 days.
However, the future of the rest of this part of west London remains uncertain following the Chancellor’s endorsement of a “badly needed” third runway at Heathrow Airport.
The U3 bus, which travels from the airport, weaves through lush fields and lets passengers off near the village’s center, where a memorial honoring locals who perished in World War One stands.
Encircling the village green are St Mary’s Church—some sections of which date back to 1067—two pubs, an iconic red postbox, and numerous large green placards urging a halt to Heathrow’s expansion.
Harjit Cholia, a mother of three who attends the local primary school, has called Harmondsworth home for the past decade.
The 39-year-old expressed her “relief” at finally obtaining clarity regarding the future of Britain’s busiest airport.
“I truly appreciate the decision,” she remarked. “I’m glad it’s moving forward and that we’re not left in limbo, so to speak. My three children were born here, and while I cherish this village, progress is essential. The economy needs to thrive, especially during these uncertain times. I am prepared to leave and say goodbye, cut my losses, and seek a fresh and brighter future for my family.”
Not everyone in the village feels as Harjit does.
Fletcher Rodger, a student who has lived with his family in a rented house in Harmondsworth, shares a more divided opinion regarding the proposed third runway.
The 18-year-old stated, “I hopefully have around 70 more years to live, and I want to witness economic growth in my country. At the same time, I fear for the future of my birthplace and its decline. The history here is remarkable; this is where the bouncing bomb was developed. Much of the village will likely be destroyed; perhaps a few things, like the church, may be saved, but without access, preservation is futile. There are people laid to rest in the churchyard. You can’t construct a runway over Commonwealth War graves. These individuals fought for our nation, and yet their memory is being paved over. How can anyone justify that on moral grounds? It’s incredibly disheartening to witness.”
Emily, a lifelong resident of the village, described the recent announcement as “extremely sad” and lamented that she could not share childhood memories of the area with her own children.
“I will never be able to say, ‘this is where I went to school, this is my local park, this is where I enjoyed playing football.’ This is where I used to buy penny sweets when they actually cost a penny. This is where I took strolls with my family through the local park. Unfortunately, I’ll never experience that with my kids.”
Rob Barnstone, a member of the No 3rd Runway Coalition, indicated that the expansion would bring the village perilously close to the Public Safety Zone at the end of the runways, which is designed to minimize the number of people living, working, or gathering in the area.
He remarked, “Living under those circumstances would be exceedingly challenging. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these listed buildings started to shake and ultimately fall down, making it exceedingly difficult to maintain any sense of community that has thrived here for many, many years. The situation is tough as it is, and the uncertain prospect of this development causes considerable distress for many residents.”
Additional reporting by Gem O’Reilly.
