Heathrow consultation process under fire from TCPA

Local MP John McDonnell today highlighted the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)‘s comprehensive and critical response to the Department for Transport’s report Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport.

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA, http://www.tcpa.org.uk) campaigns for the reform of the UK’s planning system to make it more responsive to people’s needs and aspirations and to promote sustainable development.

Their response to the Government and BAA’s consultation process on the expansion of Heathrow is highly critical of both the consultation process and the effects expansion will have on our local community.

Please find attached a copy of the TCPA report. The report criticises the consultation process for being “highly technical”, “(providing) no alternative data to allow comparison” and not allowing “for any other alternatives to be considered”.

The report goes on to provide specific answers to the 11 questions asked in the consultation document, and delivers a strong, informed and effective argument against the expansion of Heathrow.

Local MP John McDonnell said “This report provides a decisive and comprehensive rebuttal across the board of the Government’s and BAA’s arguments for the expansion of Heathrow. Yet again the TCPA has done the community a great service.”

submitted by John on 11 Apr 2008 at 11:13