How Will Proposed Heathrow Expansion Plan Affect Pollution Levels?

Over the last few years, the management at Heathrow Airport has been looking at expansion plans, feted to come into effect in 2020. Such plans would encompass the construction of a new car park, a flood pit and an incinerator in the area surrounding the airport in Stanwell. A groundswell of local opposition to the plans came to a head earlier this month, when 60 residents gathered to air their views.

With Surrey councillor Robert Evans in attendance and Andrew McLuskey, a concerned resident, spearheading the meeting, the group laid out their concerns to Nigel Milton, head of the airport, and Jonathan Deegan, chief of planning. Among other complaints, McLuskey highlighted the groups’ fears that the planned extension would lead to escalating levels of pollution.

Exacerbating the Problem

Targeting in particular the incinerator touted for construction in the Bedfont Road area, Mr McLuskey pointed to already concerning levels of pollution in the local area. Spelthorne currently has the third highest death rate due to a contaminated air supply in the South East of England, according to a report by Public Health England.

“We can’t have our people and our children polluted anymore,” asserted Mr McLuskey, insisting that he and his associates weren’t simply campaigning for the removal of the projected plans to another site out of purely selfish reasons. “It won't be conducive to a better life here. We are not against progress, we are not against air travel and we don't simply want a flood pit shafted to someone else because we are putting up so much trouble. We do want these plans to be looked at carefully and the objectionable ones removed."

In an apparent concession, Mr Deegan claimed that ongoing assessment of the situation may eliminate the need for the construction of the incinerator altogether. However, there was further unease about the car park and flood pit from the group, as well.

Flood Pit Threatens to Deepen Water “Plague”

Mr McLuskey attacked the plans for a flood pit in Stanwell Moor, claiming that the location was already the victim of a “plague” of flooding, and that should such excess water become contaminated with aeroplane fuel, the consequences could be disastrous. To learn more about flooding, read: What Is the Environmental Impact of Flooding?

Similarly, the proposed car park, earmarked for the bio-diverse landscape north of the village hall, came under fire for its threat to the local ecosystem. The protesters were also angry that previous promises, made by inspectors prior to the construction of Terminal 4 and allegedly confirming that that terminal would be the last, were not being fulfilled.

These allegations were shrugged off by Mr Milton, who countered that those inspectors “weren’t in a position to make these promises”. Mr Deegan also sympathised with the group’s views, but rather worryingly, asserted that, “All of this has to go somewhere”.

This defence, coupled with vague rumblings about compensation for those affected by the plans, signify that the extensions probably will be pushed through one way or another. However, Mr Deegan also acknowledged that: “These are people's lives we are dealing with and we have to understand the nitty gritty", and such words will give the people of Stanwell hope that a compromise can be reached. 

Heathrow's 3^rd Runway

Momentum is also gathering behind Heathrow's plans to build a 3^rd runway. However, there is also resistance to this plan with a study stating that a 3rd runway could triple the amount of deaths from pollution. The opposition also include Boris Johnson, who insists it would be "barbarically contemptuous" of local residents.