Letter: A Third Runway at Heathrow Would Be Harmful to Local Residents

Published on: 2 Sep, 2026
Updated on: 2 Sep, 2026

Heathrow shown with a third runway over the M25. Heathrow Airport

From Sylvia Taylor

In response to: Deadline Looms for Heathrow Consultation

The Heathrow Expansion plans for the third runway is counter to all expressions by the Government and the Heathrow lobby about the benefits to the Economy, Health, Noise, Transport, Housing and Well Being, for the following reasons:

Economy – the boast about 1000s of jobs being created it is a lie, the jobs will only be short-term in the building of the third runway.

Health – the recorded health by local GPS of people living beneath and within a radius of two miles, ie West Drayton & Yiewsley, shows a higher incidence of lung related diseases and cancers than anywhere else in the country. Furthermore the mental state of patients is at an all time high.

Noise – the claimed abatement for lack of noise from low flying planes is extremely questionable. Also, not all planes will be of the latest design and furthermore the increased road traffic will create additional noise as access points are brought closer to homes on the perimeter of the airport.

Transport – As climate change is now recognised and becomes a greater threat on a daily basis, flying in the future is likely to be restricted to only essential flyers on business while recreational flights will be discouraged.

Housing – the demolition of good housing stock and the displacement of hundreds of residents whose roots, work, school links, commercial and social links which are all bound up in the existing Heathrow area, are to be destroyed and will as has already been shown the cause of mental issues which are long term and not solved by re-housing in unfamiliar and often unsuitable areas.

Well Being – a huge burden has already been placed upon local residents in the immediate area of Heathrow, due to uncertainty and the ripping out of the hearts of communities through compulsory purchase and the systematic degradation of the areas around the current airport. So long as this misguided and wicked scheme continues people will be increasingly affected emotionally, mentally and physiologically by the threats under which they are expected to conduct their lives.