News Release : 05 March 2004

NO THIRD RUNWAY FOR HEATHROW SAY THREE REGIONS

PROPOSALS FOR A THIRD RUNWAY AT HEATHROW SHOULD BE DROPPED. That was the unified message from three English regions - with a combined population of over 20 million people - when they met to consider the Aviation White Paper.

The Advisory Forum on Regional Planning for London, the South East and the East of England, decided after some discussion that a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow would add extra pollution, disturbance and traffic in an already over congested area. Additionally, it could undermine plans to attract investment and new business to the Thames Gateway growth area on the east side of London. The Forum was also critical of the high degree of uncertainty left by the Aviation White Paper and its failure to address longer-term sustainability issues.

“The Government’s emphasis on yet more growth at Heathrow is inappropriate”, said Councillor Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Forum and Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly’s Planning Committee.

“The area already has to accommodate massive expansion for Heathrow’s Fifth Terminal. A third runway and sixth terminal for Heathrow would attract yet more jobs and investment to the already over-heated west side of London. These jobs are needed on the east side of London to correct the historic imbalance of wealth and opportunity between the east and west”, said Nicky Gavron, strategic planning adviser to the Mayor of London.

The three regions will now be considering the next steps.

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Notes to editors:

1. The Advisory Forum on Regional Planning for London, the South East and the East of England is made up of members from the South East England Regional Assembly, Greater London Authority (GLA) and the East of England Regional Assembly. The role of the Forum is to advise on planning issues, such as the Mayor of London’s newly published ‘London Plan’, Regional Planning Guidance and water resources, which affect London and its neighbouring regions. Together, the three regions represent 20.6 million people.
2. The Mayor, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the ALG represent London at the Advisory Forum. Please see the website for information on www.london.gov.uk

The East of England Regional Assembly

1. The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) is the designated Voluntary Regional Chamber under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998. The East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) exists to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of the region through a partnership of elected representatives and appointed representatives from social, economic and environmental interests within the region.
2. EERA is the Regional Planning Body for the East of England, responsible for producing Regional Planning Guidance. Information on the East of England Regional Assembly is available from the EERA website at www.eera.gov.uk

The South East England Regional Assembly

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007