Heathrow Third Runway - Royal Borough Joins Call For Judicial Review

The Royal Borough and other local councils around Heathrow have today (Tuesday) launched an application for a judicial review of Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon’s decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow.

The challenge comes from the 2M group of local authorities  (pictured last year, below) opposed to Heathrow expansion, of which the Royal Borough is a founder member.

The case is also backed by Transport for London, Greenpeace, RSPB, WWF, CPRE, HACAN and the Sipson residents group NOTRAG where 700 families face losing their homes.

The Transport Secretary announced his support for a third runway and sixth terminal on January 15. The decision was subject to a number of environmental conditions relating to noise, air quality, public transport and climate change.

The local authorities will argue that the Government failed to conduct a lawful consultation process and arrived at a decision on a potentially half-capacity third runway, which was different to the fully operational runway in the consultation.

They will claim that the decision was irrational in a number of areas including the economic case, noise, air quality and public transport impacts and the approach to climate change issues, and that the Transport Secretary failed to provide adequate reasons for his decision.

If permission is granted it is likely that a hearing would not take place until the early part of 2010.

Cllr David Burbage, leader of the council, said: "This challenge demonstrates our commitment to the fight against unacceptable development at Heathrow which will have devastating effects on even larger numbers of our residents, whose voices cannot be heard over the deafening roar of the Government’s support for these misguided expansion plans."

The 2M Group is an all-party alliance of local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities. The group, which took its name from the two million residents of the original 12 members, now represents 23 authorities with a combined population of 5 million people and is supported by the Mayor of London.

The full membership comprises the London Boroughs of Brent, Camden, Ealing, Greenwich, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Sutton, Southwark and Wandsworth, the boroughs of Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wycombe and South Bucks District Council.

For more information on 2M visit http://www.2MGroup.org.uk">www.2MGroup.org.uk