Sarah Joins Forces With Brent Friends Of The Earth To Fight Heathrow Expansion Plans

6.12.45pm GMT Mon 25th Feb 2008

Sarah Teather is supporting the Friends of the Earth campaign against Heathrow Expansion

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather has told a meeting of Brent Friends of The Earth that she will fight side by side with them against Labour's planned expansion of Heathrow Airport.

The Government's have proposed to double the number of flights from Heathrow to 800,000 per year, making a mockery of any attempts to tackle climate change.

Aviation is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gases leading to climate change, and Heathrow Airport itself contributes a third of the UK's aviation emissions. Flights from Heathrow already pump as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as five million cars every year.

Under Labour's plans 700 London families will lose their homes, while many Brent households will come under Heathrow flight paths for the first time. Areas that could be set to experience severe noise pollution include: Queen's Park; Alperton; Brondesbury Park; Cricklewood; Harlesden; Kensal Green; Kilburn and Stonebridge.

Brent Friends of the Earth invited local MP Sarah to speak at the meeting at Willesden Green Library. Brent Council Executive Member for Transport Daniel Brown announced that Brent's Liberal Democrat Councillors would also be opposing the Heathrow expansion plans.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"The Government should be taking the lead in the fight against climate change, instead of sitting back and hoping the problem will go away. It is outrageous that the additional flights from Heathrow's third runway are predicted to emit the same amount of carbon dioxide per year as the whole of Kenya.

"Lots of people want to fly less and would be prepared to take the train if it was convenient and affordable. It's crazy that it's often cheaper for people in Brent to get a 'plane to Brussels or Edinburgh than it is to take a train.

"We need to invest in high speed rail links with Europe and the rest of the UK, and we must encourage people to make the right choices by making sure the green option is the cheapest option.

"I will continue to fight alongside Brent Friends of the Earth and local residents to persuade the Labour Government to think again on their environmentally disastrous plans."

Local Alperton Councillor Daniel Brown said:

"Brent's Liberal Democrats are firmly opposed to the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

"If Gordon Brown decides to go ahead despite local opposition, residents in Brent could be facing the misery and stress of frequent noise disruption, as well as increased pressure on our roads and railways.

"Brent's Liberal Democrats will stand shoulder to shoulder with residents as they fight the Government's Heathrow Expansion plans."