BAA Meeting on 3rd Runway Blight Protection

I met with BAA today (Thursday) to press for action from the company to protect my constituents from the blight over their homes caused by the threat of the 3rd runway proposal. BAA and the Government gave an undertaking when a 3rd runway was announced for Heathrow that the value of residents homes would be protected by a bond scheme. This scheme is supposed to reassure residents that if a runway went ahead their property would be bought at a protected value. The problem is that the bond scheme does not take effect until a formal planning application is submitted. This could be another year or two. In the meantime some people, who need to move home because their families are growing or because they are retiring to live elsewhere, are trapped in unsuitable often overcrowded accommodation, unable to sell their property. I took along to the BAA meeting, Mr and Mrs Fodder, a young family who are suffering a great deal because they now have a child and live in accomodation which no longer meets their needs and which they cannot sell. We have been told by BAA that the implementation of the bond scheme would be brought forward. That was months ago but we are still waiting. Today BAA was unwilling to give us a date for when the scheme will start and when families like the Fodders will be assisted. I am extremely angry at the treatment of my constituents, whose homes are blighted in ths way, and informed the BAA representatives today that I will be raising this issue with ministers and in Parliament and using every method I can to force BAA to live up to its responsibilities.

submitted by John on 01 Oct 2009 at 18:42