Biofuel plant threat in Southall

Government scrapes through on Heathrow vote

Decision on Heathrow expansion announnced

The government announced its decision on Heathrow expansion on 15th Jan 2009.

Gordon Brown has decided to go ahead with a third runway. This was a litmus test for the government - a test for its commitment to the environmment and local democracy. The test showed there is no such commitment.

Decision on Heathrow expansion imminent

A Decision on Heathrow expansion is expected very soon (as at 11th Jan).

This is litmus test for the government - a test for its commitment to the environmment and local democracy.

Will the government take climate change, air pollution, noise and open spaces seriously? Does it care about communities and local people? Or will it decide to expand Heathrow?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our readers, surfers and friends!

After the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the press and public will no doubt return to stories of recession and economic gloom. A worrying effect of these economic problems is that they are now being used as a justification by politicians and commentators to avoid addressing environmental issues. But this would be a tragic mistake.

NOw is the time to take action that will help people, the environment and the economy simultaneously. For example, now is the time to invest in renewable energy generation and building insulation.

If we don't address climate change in particular, the economic conseqences could be huge. Nicholas Stern, in his seminal report, said that the world's GDP (measure of the economy) could be reduced by up to 25% if climate change is not addressed. This would make the present 'crisis' look like a mere blip.

(Jan 09)

Heathrow decision deferred

The government has deferred the decision on Heathrow expansion until Jan 09. This is thought to be due to a split in the Labour party. Recently 40 Labour MPs came out aginst Heathrow expansion when they (plus lots Liberals and Conservatives) signed an 'Early Day Motion' (EDM) in Parliament.

New incinerator threat

West London Friends of the Earth has found out about a new incinerator threat. Buried in a long turgid document, West London Waste Authority (WLWA) says it will seek 'credits' from central government for 'Energy from Waste' plants financed via 'Private Finance Initiatives' (PFIs) in Ruislip (borough of Hillingdon) and Brentford (borough of Hounslow).

'Energy from waste' can refer to several types of plant, but it is normally a euphemism for incineration.

PFIs are a method of financing projects whereby the government takes out what is, in effect, a hire purchase agreement with the private sector whereby the latter builds and runs the plant. PFIs cost far more than conventional contracts, but the price is only paid by the taxpayer well into the future, when the government concerned has probably lost power. PFIs lock us into long-term and inflexible schemes where we have to pay large penalties if we want to upgrade the scheme to meet current needs.

WLWA has arranged a series of public consultations on its waste strategy:
* Wed 29th Oct - Brent
* Tue 25th Nov - Ealing
* Thur 27th Nov - Hounslow
* Mon 1 Dec - Uxbridge (LB of Hillingdon)
* Tue 2nd Dec - Harrow
* Wed 10th Dec - Twickenham (LB of Richmond)

If an earlier meeting in Ealing is anything to go by, the consultation will studiously avoid mentioning WLWA's ideas for incineration. It is important that the public attend these meetings to ensure that WLWA do not 'pull a fast one' on local communities.

(Oct 08)

Conservative Party comes out against Heathrow Runway 3

We were delighted to hear Theresa Villiers announce that the national Conservative party is opposed to a third Runway at Heathrow and that they will not give the go-ahead if they win the next election.

This is a landmark and a tribute to all those who have campaigned for years against Heathrow expansion.

While we are very pleased at the announcement, we need to be sure the Conservatives really mean it. They say that they will support a high-speed rail network which will obviate the need to expand Heathrow and also other airports in the SE of England. We have written to Theresa Villiers asing a number of questions, in particular how the Conservatives plan to fund railway expansion.

(Oct 08)

Boris Johnson tries to get rid of congestion charge

Local MPs' position on Heathrow expansion

There is massive public opposition to expansion of Heathrow. MPs in West London have been lining up to support local people. But Friends of the Earth is concerned that some MPs are just saying they support us in order to save their seats, when in fact they do not oppose Heathrow expansion. So we decided to test their commitment.

Big "NO" at Heathrow rally

Boris Johnson is new mayor of London

London elections important for environment

The Mayoral and GLA elections are on Thursday 1st May. There are big differences between the candidates on issues which affect air pollution and climate change.

Heathrow campaign: T5 opens, Press complaints; TV programme; Another big event

Heathrow consultation finishes - next phase starts

The Government consultation into expansion at Heathrow finished on 27nd Feb 2008. But that is only the start of the lobbying and campaigning.

An 'in principle' decision is expected in the autumn. However, the actual decision will happen later and there could be a new government by then. That is why campaigning and lobbying now are now more important than ever.

Heathrow expansion onsultation ends soon !

The consultation ends soon. Put in your response now! Lobby your MP. Come to the rally on 25th Feb.

Heathrow Crash Vindicates Friends of the Earth Safety Campaign

Friends of the Earth (FOE) has been highlighting the public danger of Heathrow expansion for 10 years. We have been saying that the government must take account of the ‘societal’ risk of a crash at Heathrow. But The government has ignored our call in its public consultation on plans to expand Heathrow Airport."

If the aviation industry, British Airways, BAA and the government continue to lobby for Heathrow expansion and Runway 3, it will show in the starkest possible terms how they put profits of the aviation industry above the safety of West London residents.

Heathrow consultation starts

The Government started a 3 month public consultation on plans to expand Heathrow Airport on 23rd Nov 2007.

The government wants to build a third runway and a sixth terminal and to increase the number of planes on the existing runways. This would represent the biggest single airport expansion ever seen in the UK.

'Anaerobic digester' proposed for West London

An 'anaerobic digester' has been proposed for West London. This is a device which converts waste food and other biodegradable waste to a form of compost. It has the one advantage that incineration has - produces some electricity - but none of the major disavantages - air pollution, toxic fly ash and waste of materials.

The sponsors of the plant say this: "CIP is a social enterprise company that runs leisure, libraries & parks for Hounslow Council. This is a new venture for it (and one of the first in London). They [CIP] have negotiated finance (private and banks) for a new company, with CIP having a stake in profits and managing the facility. Cost is £??m Hounslow and other LAs [local authorities] need to reduce their waste to landfill soon or face large fines. CIP are talking to WLWA [West London Waste Authority] but this is independent and could divert waste away from WLWA. Locally the collection for Hounslow as for Ealing will be by ECT [Ealing Community Transport].

This looks like an intiative that local people should support. For more information, contact us (020 8357 8426).

(Oct 07)

Climate camp attracts massive publicity

The climate camp took place from 14th to 21st August near Heathrow. The camp was well reported in the media so there is no need to describe here how it went.

The key point about the camp is that it took place at Heathrow. The fact that Heathrow was selected as the location for this climate camp shows how aviation is now recognised as a major contributor to climate change. Heathrow is iconic in the fight against climate change. Aircraft coming in and leaving the airport contribute over a third of the UK's aviation emissions - some 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year.

BAA tries to stifle protest with injunction - and fails

BAA tried to scare and criminalise Friends of the Earth members and other people who are highlighting the issue of climate change and opposing Heathrow expansion. Don’t take our word for it – this is what The Independent said:

Climate camp near Heathrow

A new sort of holiday camp is coming to town! From 14th to 21st August there will be a ‘climate camp’ somewhere near Heathrow. This will include a day of action on 19th Aug.

Aviation campaign hots up

Court finds in favour of incineration (April 07)

West London Waste Authority (WLWA) has won its court case against Mayor Ken Livingstone. He was trying to prevent WLWA incinerating their waste at Colnbrook. (This was not actually the case contested, but that is what it was really about.) The Mayor is planning to appeal.

This decision supports and endorses the incompetence and the contempt for the environment from Mike Nicholls, head of WLWA, his technical advisor, David Streeter and the councillors from the boroughs who supported the court action (at our expense). The sooner a London-wide waste authority takes over from WLWA, the better.

Councillors go to court to force through incineration

Weak and ineffective councillors have been manipulated by the head of West London Waste Authority, Mike Nicholls.

They have been talked into agreeing to go to court, against Mayor Ken Livingstone, to force through incineration of our waste.

Incineration is a waste or resources, it pollutes our air and creates vast quantities of greenhouse gases.

Carbon reduction group to be set up

2006 hottest year ever in Britain

The Met Office announced that it was the hottest year since records began in 1659. They cite the longest-running records series in the world, which are the 'Central England Records'.

Sleepwalking towards incineration?

After all the studies and all the brave talk about doing the right thing with our waste - recycling etc - councillors may be 'sleepwalking' towards the wrong thing - incineration.

British Airways unreformed ..
while Heathrow's climate cost revealed

Climate change bill announced

FOE’s campaign for a Climate Change Bill has been a stunning success. Over 400 MPs signed the ‘Early Day Motion’ (EDM), calling for a bill.

The announced in the Queen's speech that it will introduce a bill.

(Updated Nov 06)

Ken Livingtone gets it right, twice

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has got it right on two more of his policies.

July hottest month ever in Britain

The Met Office confirmed it was the hottest month since its records began in 1914, with an average temperature of 17.8 deg C. The previous records was 17.3 deg C in July 1983 and August 1995.

The Met Office does not use records before that date, but climate historian Philip Eden has records which show that it was the hottest July over central England for 347 years.

A West London FOE spokeperson commented: "Yet another record and yet more evidence of climate change. How much more evidence do we need before the government starts to address seriously the issue of climate change? So far the government is ignoring the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions - road traffic and aviation. Instead, it is using climate change as an excuse to build new nuclear power stations."

(Aug 06)

Dodgy professor lobbies for Runway 3

Friends of the Earth was annoyed to see the story in The Times on 26 July 06 about Heathrow and air pollution - "third runway passes pollution test".

Budget finances Heathrow destruction

Gordon Brown's budget will finance the destruction of homes and the poisoning of our air, says Friends of the Earth.

Aviation is one of the most under-taxed sectors in the economy as well as being the most environmentally damaging. Its tax exemptions of £9 billion pa mean that demand is artificially stimulated and more money can be pumped into expanding Heathrow.

Climate campaign takes off

Friends of the Earth main campaign this year is on climate change.

Climate change is - quite simply - the most important issue in the world. But the UK government, while paying lip service, is doing little to address the issue.

Wiltshire to help poison our air?