| In January of this year, Geoff Hoon announced | | | | working of a larger airport will also result in 8,000 |
| that the UK government supported the expansion | | | | permanent opportunities for locals by 2030. |
| of Heathrow should BAA continue with proposals | | | | Although the expansion is sure to create jobs for |
| to build a new runway by 2015. The new plans | | | | the local community, those against the plans are |
| see the 2200 metre runway being built to the | | | | quick to highlight the negative aspects for the |
| north of the existing airport running parallel and in | | | | area. Primarily, 700 homes will need to be |
| between the northernmost runway and the M4 | | | | demolished, as well as a church and some Grade |
| motorway. So what does the expansion mean to | | | | 2 Listed Buildings. Others believe that the |
| you? | | | | destruction will be more severe, with MP John |
| One of the key arguments in opposition to the | | | | McDonnell claiming that in total 4000 homes will be |
| plans concerns the increase in pollution as a result | | | | abandoned or demolished, alongside |
| of more airline traffic. As is reported in The | | | | Harmondsworth High Street being split, a |
| Guardian, Greenpeace and WWF (along with local | | | | graveyard being 'bulldozed' and the village of |
| councils and a total of seven million individuals) | | | | Sipson all but disappearing. |
| oppose the expansion because it will greatly | | | | In spite of the impact on the local community, |
| increase air and noise pollution. Using the | | | | and the oppositions from some MPs and |
| government estimation that 210.8 Mt of carbon | | | | environmental organisations alike, it is no surprise |
| will be generated due to extra airport traffic, | | | | that at this time the economic benefits seem |
| those in opposition believe that the cost to the | | | | very worthwhile. Heathrow is arguably the best |
| government will reach in excess of £13 | | | | located airport in the country, with excellent |
| billion - enough to cancel out any economic | | | | airport parking, local accommodation and |
| benefits from the plans. Additionally, an extra | | | | connections to London and the south. Without |
| runway will subject thousands more residents to | | | | expansion at Heathrow, many argue that the UK |
| noise pollution. | | | | is likely to "fall behind" the rest of the world in |
| To counter any detrimental effect on the | | | | terms of economic growth - simply due to the |
| community, the Labour government argues that | | | | notion that European and international investors will |
| many jobs will be created with the proposed plans | | | | be less willing to establish themselves in London if |
| - giving the local community an economic boost. | | | | there is better connectivity elsewhere. And as the |
| They argue that the construction of the runway | | | | decline in the UK economy worsens I wouldn't be |
| will lead to a massive 60,000 jobs being created. | | | | surprised if we see an increase in supporters for |
| In addition to these, after the construction the | | | | Runway 3. |