Public Meeting For Heathrow Villagers on Airport Expansion

I have convened a public meeting on Thursday night at 8pm at Heathrow Primary School for Heathrow villagers to discuss the compensation arrangements for those affected by the proposed expansion of the airport. Like most commentators I do not believe that the third runway will go ahead for a host of reasons, not least being the mass opposition there is against this plan. However I have a duty as the local MP to ensure that the future of my constituents is protected no matter what happens. For this reason at last month’s annual meeting of the Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents Association we agreed that I convene a meeting for all residents and invite BAA to send a representative to discuss the compensation arrangements if the runway proposal goes ahead. This will give local residents the opppportunity to put questions to BAA. Because we are aware that BAA is in discussions about possible changes to its bond scheme we may not be able to obtain definitive answers to some of our questions but we will be able to list those questions that we need BAA to come back to us with answers. Thursday’s meeting is not a campaigning meeting but a serious attempt to gain greater information on the compensation arrangements and I will be urging everyone (including myself) to contain any understandable strong feelings they may have about BAA’s expansion proposals so that we can use this meeting to gain as much information as possible. I have also requested a further meeting with Ministers for local residents and myself to discuss in detail the compensation arrangements needed if residents are to be protected. 

submitted by John on 20 May 2009 at 07:22