Charles Perrée

I’m deeply concerned about the potential adverse impacts of Heathrow Expansion on air quality, noise pollution, our environment and the transport networks in the capital and beyond. While aviation plays an important role in our economy and helps to keep us connected as a global city, any growth must not come at the expense of Londoners’ health or our environment. London is proud to be leading the way in tackling the climate crisis, but I see no evidence these proposals are compatible with a credible path to Net Zero. As we grapple with the sobering consequences of the climate emergency in the form of extreme heatwaves, drought and wildfires, the evidence suggests Heathrow expansion is a risk that we simply cannot afford to take. We’ve made incredible strides to clean up London’s air in recent years, improving health and saving lives by bringing down levels of toxic pollution. A third runway at Heathrow would put this progress in peril, as well as increasing noise pollution to unacceptable levels, blighting local communities who are already suffering. I’m also worried that Heathrow’s expansion could overwhelm transport networks in the capital and beyond, creating gridlock and forcing the taxpayer to pick up a multi-billion-pound bill for the necessary public transport improvements, which are left undefined and unfunded in the current proposals. The truth is the whole case for Heathrow expansion relies on outdated evidence that fails to take into account the urgent challenges we face today. I will continue to vehemently oppose these plans as I seek to build a fairer, safer, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.