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Council calls for Heathrow health study
Hounslow Council wants an urgent
health impact assessment to consider the potential effect
of a third runway
The plea comes as airport operator BAA releases a report claiming
the Government has vastly exaggerated the pollution likely
to be caused by an extra runway at the airport.
Councillor Ruth Cadbury, Hounslow�s Executive Member for Cleaner
Greener Neighbourhoods, said: �Hounslow already has some of
the worst air pollution in the country, and any further expansion
at Heathrow will only exacerbate the problem. This move by
BAA is a real slap in the face, given their previous commitment
against building any further runways at Heathrow. They ruled
out the possibility when they were campaigning for Terminal
Five, but now they�re changing their tune."
She added, �The pollution issue has always been one of the
major issues preventing further expansion, and now that they�ve
pinned their colours to the mast, BAA�s claim that fewer people
around Heathrow will be exposed to high levels of nitrogen
dioxide if a third runway goes ahead, appears to be just a
little bit too convenient.
�The Government�s figures show that at least 35,000 people
will be exposed to unacceptable levels of NO2 if the third
runway goes ahead. BAA now say that only 10,000 people will
be affected. Having used the same consultants as the Government,
they have still managed to come up with such a massive discrepancy
in the figures, and that must raise concerns over the accuracy
of the information, which is why we are calling for an independent
health impact study in the area.�
The Council's request is supported by the findings of the
London Health Commission�s (LHC) Health in London report,
which highlights Hounslow as one of the worst polluted boroughs
in London.
Councillor Cadbury continued: �The London Health Commission
report shows that nitrogen dioxide
levels are already being exceeded, and one of their key findings
is that there has been little research into the effects of
air quality on different communities.
�Hounslow already faces a tremendous negative effect as a
result of Terminal Five, as the additional traffic - both
during construction and once the airport is operational -
will dramatically increase the local pollution levels even
before a third runway is considered. However, this has not
been taken into account.
The Council have commissioned Professor Stansfield, of Queen
Mary's College, who recently gave evidence to the Transport
Select Committee on the aviation white paper, to carry out
some independent research into the issue. They say it�s imperative
that more work is done to assess the true cost of further
expansion before any decision is made.�
May
13, 2003
BAA
accused of moving the goal posts on air pollution
HACAN
ClearSkies
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