Jan 16, 2009
Heathrow Campaign Hots Up
Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary campaigner for Reading East, has turned landowner and called for the fight against the environmentally disastrous expansion of Heathrow Airport to be stepped up, following the announcement today (15 January) that the Labour Government has given the go-ahead.
Gareth, who has branded the scheme an ‘environmental disaster’, has been representing residents in Caversham, Woodley and Earley who are already complaining about increased aircraft noise from Heathrow in recent months. He has signed up as a beneficial owner of a plot of land in the middle of the area proposed for compulsory purchase, under a scheme being run by Greenpeace, and is urging local residents to do the same.
Gareth has also demanded that Reading Borough Council joins the “2M” group of local authorities against the scheme, in a formal written question to the Council meeting on 27 January. The question was tabled several months ago in order to guarantee a mini-debate on the issue at the meeting. The Council’s current stated position is one of neutrality to the scheme, following previous questions by the Lib Dems.
Commenting on the Government announcement, Gareth said:-
“The expansion of Heathrow would be an environmental disaster. Today’s announcement rips to shreds any remaining credibility the Labour Government has when it claims it is serious about tackling climate change.
“If this scheme goes ahead, Heathrow would be Britain’s single biggest source of carbon emissions. Thankfully, it is almost certain that any government elected at the General Election will cancel this ludicrous project.
“The message must go out to the people of Reading East: now is the time to step up the campaign against Heathrow expansion. I have signed up – for free – as a landowner of the land that would form part of the runway. Millions of people want to ensure that this white elephant will never be built, and this is just one action they can take by logging onto Greenpeace’s website.
“What Reading and Britain needs – now – is a high-speed rail network, to reduce carbon emissions and help travel within the UK. Tory and Labour Governments have left our country behind the times on this, and even today, only the Liberal Democrats have put forward plans which will actually pay for high speed rail.”
