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LEWISHAM: Council flying in face of airport expansion
A council has joined a group opposed to the expansion of Heathrow airport.
Lewisham Council has joined the 2M group, an alliance of local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of the expansion.
The group, which gets its name from the two million residents of its original 12 local authorities, now represents a combined population of four million people, after three other councils also joined.
Consultation on Department for Transport proposals for a third runway and increased use of the two existing runways at Heathrow closed on February 27.
The group claims the proposals would increase flights from the current number of 480,000 to around 702,000 by 2030.
Fears have been raised the plans may also see Greenwich, Blackheath and Deptford directly under flight paths.
Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock said: "The impact of further growth at Heathrow significantly affects our residents.
"As I understand it, there is the potential to create a very significant increase in aircraft over Lewisham and Greenwich.
"Many of us at town hall have quite serious reservations about Heathrow's growth."
He added: "I'm not remotely an expert on airport policy but it seems to me the argument being made is Heathrow is in the wrong place and having planes flying across the city to get there is problematic."
Sir Steve says he would back a recent proposal by Greenwich and Woolwich MP Nick Raynsford to build a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
Greenwich Council has said it intends to join the group.
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is expected to announce her decision on the proposals in the early summer.
Greenwich and Lewisham Friends of the Earth member Dominic Clarke said the group welcomed the Lewisham Council's decision.
He said: "We are opposed to expansion since it will cause, among other negative effects, massive increases in greenhouse gas emissions and noise, particularly in south London."
A public meeting to discuss the proposals will be held at Blackheath Halls, Lee Road, Blackheath, on April 23 at 7.30pm.
3:22pm Tuesday 15th April 2008
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