'Fight plans for a fourth Heathrow runway'

Nov 19 2008 By Ed Saunt, Staines News

Brian Sobey

A campaigner who has fought for 21 years to save his home from being buried under a third Heathrow runway, is convinced BAA's will seek to build a fourth runway in Stanwell.

Brian Sobey, 79, who lives in one of 700 homes in Sipson that BAA plans to bulldoze to accommodate a third runway, issued the warning after Spelthorne MP David Wilshire told the Commons last week he would be willing to have a runway in his constituency if it was 'necessary'.

Mr Sobey, who is president of Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents' Association, claims he has seen BAA drawings proposing a fourth runway south of the airport and has warned Stanwell residents to be ready for a fight if the Government has its way with the third runway.

He said: "Stanwell residents would be quite right to be frightened about it. BAA's greedy eyes are going to be cast somewhere else after they have got this one because the third runway will not meet the demand by 2030.

"If they get away with this, it's inevitable they will look south of the airport. That's my opinion and I have no doubts whatsoever."

BAA claims the third runway will increase capacity of the airport by up to 50% and, as the Government has pledged to support it, it is due to be given the go ahead before the end of the year.

When contacted by the Herald & News, Mr Wilshire distanced himself from his comments in

Parliament, saying a runway could never be built in Spelthorne because it would be 'impractical'.

He added: "It's certainly a good scare tactic by these people but it's just simply not on the agenda. If we had the open space in Spelthorne that they have to the north of the airport, then I would still say we need it but it would be impossible to put a runway in Spelthorne.

"Heathrow needs a third runway not just to expand but to keep the current prosperity going."