Sarah Olney wrote in her weekly newsletter about her opposition to plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, following the statement by the Chancellor that the Government is supporting the building of a third runway at Heathrow Airport. She notes that the economic advantages of expanding Heathrow remain contested, and the environmental and social consequences are unavoidable.

This week Sarah Olney asked an Urgent Question on airport expansion to the Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, highlighting that the Department for Transport’s own Updated Appraisal Report estimates that the net present value of building a third runway ranges from just £3.3 billion to minus £2.2 billion, while Heathrow itself holds over £17 billion of debt and is highly leveraged. She notes that the Minister avoided the question, but attacked the Liberal Democrats’ opposition to expansion without providing any substance.

She also asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury how the Government could be confident that a third runway would lead to growth while a proposal from Heathrow is not even on the table yet. She cited the Head of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s recent statement that airport expansion will not lead to significant economic growth.

The Leader of Richmond Council also spoke against the Heathrow intention’s at a meeting of the Full Council on 28 January 2025.

Although talk is much about the Third Runway it is the consequential implications which need to be given as much if not more consideration. Perhaps the main issue for Mortlake and East Sheen would be plans for the National Rail line from Waterloo to Heathrow. Given a level crossing downtime currently in excess of 46 minutes an hour, increased use from the Mortlake development, whatever the outcome of planning applications, the continuing closure of Hammersmith Bridge, and South Circular Road traffic, it is difficult to see what any Traffic Plan could achieve.

It seems that this is a topic on which Richmond Council and South West London MPs are agreed.