Local people want to see an end to delays to the Western Rail link to Heathrow say Back Heathrow, the community campaign that supports job creation for residents close to the airport.

Planning permission for the project – that links Wales and South-West England to Heathrow airport has been delayed by a year, after many years of delays. The scheme was not even mentioned in the government’s own recent connectivity review of rail.

Back Heathrow Executive Director, Parmjit Dhanda said: “This project boosts rail connectivity, cuts carbon and helps create jobs from Wales to west London. This could be one of the biggest ‘levelling up’ projects for working communities in the south of our country. The government needs to crack on and do it.”

Back Heathrow fully supports the Thames Valley and other Chambers of Commerce; many regional economic and transport forums; the Wales Assembly, and local councils that all say they are bitterly disappointed by delays to this much-needed project.

Western Rail to Heathrow link says the project will:

• bring improvements in connectivity to 14m people across regions
• support regional economies in the South West, south Wales, South Central and Midlands
• will help deliver UK climate change targets and mitigate the impact of Heathrow
• be a vital stimulus to the recovery of the UK aviation industry
• help the recovery of international trade and inbound tourism.

See the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce story here: https://bit.ly/3y7QS2c