Heathrow: Jon Ball Slams Government Third Runway Decision

12.35.00pm GMT Thu 15th Jan 2009

Lib Dem campaigners Dinti Batstone and Jon Ball under an existing Heathrow flight path

The Government has today finally announced its backing for the building of the third runway and a 6th terminal.

"The impact of this decision is even more keenly felt for us in Ealing as the approach to the new runway will be directly over the south of the Borough including South Ealing, Chiswick and Hanwell" says Jon Ball, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Ealing Central and Acton and a long term campaigner against Heathrow expansion.

Jon continues: "We are not convinced that the economic case has been made out especially in the current global economic downturn and taking into consideration the huge subsidies currently given to the aviation industry.

"We will continue to campaign vigorously against Heathrow expansion. I will be spreading the message to commuters tonight and I - like many others - have registered to become the owner of a piece of land on the site required for the expansion."

West London European spokeswoman for the Lib Dems, Dinti Batstone, was equally adamant declaring:

"Lib Dems in the European Parliament are taking the fight against the third runway to Brussels. The Government must not defy EU air and noise pollution limits which protect our quality of life. Only the Liberal Democrats have campaigned consistently at local, national and European level to stop the third runway".

Leading the Liberal Democrat challenge to the expansion of Heathrow is Susan Kramer MP for Richmond Park:

"We will never give up this battle. We will use every weapon in the armoury including taking the Government to court. The battles for quality of life in our area and on climate change are simply too important for us to give up. The Government brought this fight to us, but they will regret it".