Reflections on environmental sustainability and social entrepreneurship
Blocking Heathrow Growth and the Mogden Stench
I have campaigned against Heathrow expansion for over a decade. In the summer of 2007 I pitched my tent for a week at Climate Camp Heathrow where I witnessed first hand the brutal treatment of protestors by a few police officers. Despite campaigners' High Court victory, the Labour Government then announced that it still intended to pursue expansion of Heathrow with a third runway. In January 2009 they paved the way for the end of the Cranford Agreement - expansion by stealth.
Night flights cause disturbance and distress to a great number of people living under the flight path. There are currently no restrictions on the number of flights that are allowed between 11.30pm and 6am up to a maximum of 5,800 a year. The Department for Transport is now planning to increase the number of night flights still further up to a maximum of 620 flights per year, raising the average per night from 16 to 18.
To stop the expansion of Heathrow by stealth in 2010 I set out detailed proposals - supported by Lib Dem colleagues in Richmond and Hillingdon - to bring back the Cranford Agreement by West London local authorities putting a private bill before Parliament.
Along with Vince Cable MP and other local campaigners I
have long argued Mogden Sewage Works in Isleworth has for
too long blighted the lives of many in our local community. In July
2001, after numerous complaints from local residents, the Council
took the first steps to tackle this problem and served an odour
abatement notice on Thames Water. However it was only seven years
later, and after a long legal challenge, that Thames Water finally
agreed to comply. Despite recent improvements to the plant
facilities (e.g. covering many tanks), unpredictable weather
patterns and six storm tanks that remain uncovered mean that local
residents still regularly suffer from the odour. This is why Vince
Cable MP and I are now calling for the six remaining tanks to be
covered and have helped Independent Community Group councillors
push the Council to finally issue abatement notices in late
December 2009.
HEATHROW CAMPAIGNWhat are the next steps? It is really important that we continue to keep up the pressure
on the Government, and do everything we can to stop the third
runway being built. Some of the actions planned over the coming
months are as follows: What can I do to keep up the fight? ■ Sign our petition online.■ Join the Stop Heathrow expansion group on Facebook. ■ Find out more about the campaign from the HACAN Clearskies website. ■ Register for Airplot. |
MOGDEN CAMPAIGNWhat are the next steps? ■ Cllr Jon Hardy with backing from other Independent Community Group councillors and Andrew has succeeded in getting LB Hounslow to serve abatement notices on Thames Water.■ Andrew and Vince Cable MP have called on Thames Water to cover the six open Mogden storm water tanks. ■ Local residents are taking legal action against Thames Water. ■ Many more protests, rallies and campaigns in which you can get involved. What can I do to keep up the fight? ■ Sign our petition online.■ Find out more about the campaign from the MRAG website. |
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