…local residents back new jobs and £49 billion investment plans for Heathrow

On Thursday 7^th August, nearly 400 local people attended the main hall of the Indian Gymkhana Club in Hounslow to celebrate Heathrow’s plans to build a third runway.

Supporters of Back Heathrow, the community group with over 100,000 local residents who support expansion, heard Parmjit Dhanda, Thomas Woldbye and Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP talk about expansion and what it would mean for the local and national economy.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s Chief Executive, confirmed that plans for a new runway had been submitted to Transport Minister, Heidi Alexander just days previously. He said the coming years could see £49bn of private investment into the local area, creating thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships. He reiterated that the plans would conform to the government’s standards on decarbonisation, noise and air quality.

Back Heathrow (the community campaign that represents over 100,000 local people who support a new runway) and the country’s two biggest industrial trade unions (Unite and GMB) have welcomed Heathrow Airport’s formal application to the government for a third runway.

Parmjit Dhanda, Back Heathrow’s Executive Director said:

“We’ve been here before, but this feels different. The country is crying out for growth. Locally there is a silent majority of working people who want to see change. Thousands of them depend on airport-related jobs. For the sake of West London and our country, it’s time for the builders, not the blockers.”

Back Heathrow has welcomed the government’s review of national airspace as a chance for aviation to “work better” for our local communities.

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye today confirmed Heathrow will submit its third runway proposal to the Government by the summer.

Speaking at the signing of the UK Steel Charter in Scunthorpe, Mr Woldbye declared a third runway was needed for the country’s future economic success and committed Heathrow to use British-made steel throughout the airport’s redevelopment. 

The Heathrow Academy is a hub for local apprenticeships at Heathrow airport, according to community campaign group Back Heathrow. The Academy showcased its role during a recent visit from Parmjit Dhanda (Executive Director of Back Heathrow) in the run-up to National Apprenticeships Week (beginning 10^th of February).  

Chiswick residents marked the Chancellor’s announcement of a third runway at Heathrow with a rally at the Chiswick Town Hall just two hours after Rachel Reeves’s landmark speech. 

In attendance were local councillors, representatives of West London businesses and over 70 local Back Heathrow supporters. 

Following the Chancellor’s recent confirmation of support for Heathrow’s third runway proposal, local campaign group Back Heathrow has warmly welcomed her decision.

Back Heathrow Executive Director, Parmjit Dhanda said: “This truly is a historic moment for our country. By backing Heathrow’s expansion, the Chancellor has backed growth. No new runways have been built in the South East since the 1940s, yet China plans to build 100 entirely new airports by 2035. A third runway at Heathrow will help secure Britain’s place in the global economy for generations to come.

In response to the Heathrow CEO’s call for the government to indicate support for a third runway at Heathrow yesterday, Parmjit Dhanda (Executive Director of the Back Heathrow campaign group) said:

“We have over 100,000 local supporters who have been calling for successive governments to build this vital piece of infrastructure for many years.”

Back Heathrow supporters were joined by Heathrow’s CEO Thomas Woldbye, at the campaign group’s annual Summer Party last week.

The event was held at the Indian Gymkhana Club in Osterley, with nearly 400 hundred local residents from across West London in attendance, to celebrate the airport’s continued success, and to reaffirm their support for the airport’s growth.

Local campaign group Back Heathrow, welcomes the High Court’s decision to grant an injunction to Heathrow Airport, which will restrict eco-activist groups protesting on its property.