Roger Evans Listens & Puts Havering First

Yesterday, three of us from three different boroughs, went along to meet Roger Evans, GLA member at City Hall. Roger had kindly asked us along to present our argument against the expansion of London City Airport.

We hope we were able to convey to Roger not only our passion for our communities, but also our legitimate and grave concerns on the negative effects of expansion of London City Airport on South/East London and beyond.

Roger was exceptionally generous with his time with us yesterday, and he listened to the issues we raised. We could see that Roger cares about the residents of Havering and how future expansion and flight path changes may affect his borough, and he expressed his concern. We hope residents in Havering will feel able to approach Roger with their concerns, as he has invited them to do so on his blog. We all need to make the most of opportunities such as the one that Roger is offering for feedback and comments.

At the beginning of the meeting we had told Roger that if we were able to make him question at least one issue, which he had heard or been told, about London City Airport expansion prior to our presentation, then we would be very happy. We are happy.

Although we've thanked Roger privately, we'd like to thank him here too, for his time and consideration of the issues.

Flight Path Talk Was Blocked

Today's Report on the Romford Recorder

HAVERING Council has been accused of deliberately stifling criticism of controversial flightpaths over the borough.

Residents at the Hornchurch Area Committee meeting held at Langtons Junior School last Tuesday, April 7, were furious that the council twice delayed debate on proposals for increased aircraft flights over Hornchurch.

Under a proposal made by the National Air Transport Service, two flight paths from London City Airport would be re-directed over Hornchurch.

Coupled with the airport's plan to increase flights by 50-per-cent, this could spell a daily increase of 40 flights per day crossing the borough.

Yet when Havering Council had the chance to voice an opinion on these proposals, which many residents fear will create added noise and pollution, it did not respond to consultations, or invite residents to comment, the meeting heard.

Labour Leader Cllr Keith Darvill planned to raise a critical motion on the administration's inaction at a full council meeting in early February. But he never got the chance as the meeting was cut short because of snow.

He was stopped from raising the issue at the last council meeting in March, when yet again, it ran out of time.

Cllr Darvill will now have to wait until the end of July - six months after he first planned to raise the issue.

Hornchurch residents slammed the delay at the area committee meeting, with one saying: "I was at that council meeting and it's pretty obvious that the administration deliberately tried to fiddle it so that this hasn't been heard.

"They don't want to debate it, they just want a vote where they can steamroll it."

Cllr John Mylod said: "It was up for debate on two accounts and it was talked out. Instead, they dealt with silly things they probably shouldn't have."

Cllr Keith Darvill said he wanted the motion to be debated, rather than simply voted on. He said: "There was a delay on debate because of a long discussion on members' allowances, and then the Ombudsman report on Mark Cannon."

Leader of the Council, Cllr Michael White said later: "I have become increasingly aware of residents' concerns about the planned changes to flight paths and we will contribute to the NATs consultation on the flight paths."

"All motions are placed on the agenda after general business, voting, reports, questions and other business are debated. Unfortunately we didn't get time to debate this motion but it is listed as the first motion for the next time and I look forward to the debate.

Theresa Villiers Says No to Heathrow, But Yes to London City Airport?

Yet more hypocrisy from politicians. Apparently Theresa Villiers and co of the Conservative Party is dead against expansion at Heathrow, for health, quality of life and environmental issues. But it appears if the problems are transferred to East London, or other parts of the South East, it's perfectly fine!! Is this really going to turn into a West/East divide of cherry picking potential voters?

In The Times, Sam Coates reported that:

The Conservatives said yesterday that they were willing to expand airport capacity in the South East despite the party’s environmental opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.
Luton, City Airport or Southend could be allowed increased numbers of flights or an extra runway under the Tories, even though they argued against Heathrow’s expansion on the grounds that it could jeopardise the target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.