Forum Topic

Heathrow expansion

Included within the proposals on Heathrow expansion is a propsal to remove the current practice of landing in a westerly direction in all but high easterly winds.This means that not only will Ealing be hit by the noise and pollution of a new flight path into Heathrow in the South of the Borough, but 50 per cent of the time the rest of the Borough will be under the noisy take-off path too. Add to this the Government propose almost doubling the amount of flights in and out of Heathrow, and we have to ask whether Ealing is going to be a tenable place to live in ten years time.

Adrian Orchard ● 6889d12 Comments

Adrian,Are you part of the "Ealing Terrorist Brigade" too?

James de Vivenot ● 6889d

James - it's comments like this that stop my friends and neighbours from speaking up at all. Such a shame. They did warn me I'd be flayed for having a different opinion, so I guess I will join them and keep my head below the parapet in future :-)

S. D. Brock ● 6889d

Sheila, the point I was making is to demonstrate that we need healthy debate rather than name-calling.To dismiss anyone who dares to object to development whether it is construction of skyscrapers in Ealing Broadway or the expansion of Heathrow airport as luddites, Nimbies or even Terrorists stifles debate on issues that are vital to our future. So come out from the trenches and let's debate the issues rationally!

James de Vivenot ● 6889d

I am completely lost by what on earth it is you are trying to say.

Adrian Orchard ● 6888d

I'm sorry Adrian I was making a facetious comment in response to Sheila's post on the Arcadia redevelopment thread that people who campaign against development in Ealing have been dubbed the "Ealing Terrorist Brigade" by her friends.I hope that people who campaign against Heathrow expansion will not be put in the category.

James de Vivenot ● 6888d

I see - I missed the finer points of this exchange (!)By these criteria, I assume the Department of Transport are terrorists too as their whole campaign relies on preventing any balanced debate or review of options.

Adrian Orchard ● 6888d

Just to get the record straight on being a Nimby. Can someone please explain exactly what is wrong with not wanting something bad in your own back yard?If the alternative is something that moves the bad thing to noones back yard, doesn't that make being a 'nimby' perfectly justified?

Adrian Orchard ● 6888d

Adrian, James is being disingenuous and bending the facts to suit his own purpose.  The comment I made was not "people who campaign against" - it was about a specific small faction I was referring to, as he knows well.  Unfortunately, that small faction shout everyone else down, and make snide comments like the one above to discourage both the reasonable, well balance opposers and the pro groups. In fact they stifle all debate by twisting everyone's comments out of context and making fun of anyone with the temerity to have a different view. I do hope their smug sense of superiority over us average locals make them feel really important! :-)

S. D. Brock ● 6888d

Maybe we need a series of strategically-placed 80 storey buildings placed across the borough?

Alan Brainsby ● 6888d

Careful Alan!

James de Vivenot ● 6888d

Sheila, I'm sorry you feel I was being disingenuous. I certainly did not intend to make fun, shout anyone down or stifle debate.I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments and hope that people with a smug sense of superiority do not try to belittle average locals like you and me and unilaterally impose inappropriate and unwanted developments on us.

James de Vivenot ● 6888d

Any relaxation of current rules, even without any further expansion, will be very serious because we are already in a finely balanced situation. Ealing residents, including Norwood Green and Hanwell have been tolerant up to this point but it is looking like a crossroads is rapidly approaching.I oppose any encroachment into overflying at night as our sleep is very important. I also oppose any change to continuous landing and takeoff on both runways as it is very unfair/damaging to have no settled break from noise particularly for those closer to the airport.Thanks for this posting which has made me read a lot on a later thread and the www.ealing.gov.uk website today!

Robert Darke ● 6885d