We have receieved a letter this week from Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport, outlining the proposals for the addition of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.  On the 22nd November she laid before the House a statement about the publication of a consultation on proposals to develop the airport. 

The 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation fulfils a Government commitment made in the 2003 Future of Air Transport White Paper and in last year's Progress Report. In Particular, it reports on the outcome of the work over the last three years to consider how a short third runway and associated passenger terminal facilities could operate within the strict local environmental limits set out in out White Paper. It also includes proposals for making greater use of the existing two runways.

The Government recognises the benefits of additional capacity for the local, regional and national economies and to the UK's competitiveness internationally, but are also aware of the local environmental impacts of noise, and more importantly, climate change.

The consultation will continue until 27th February 2008 and Glenda would like to encourage all her constituents to make their views known. Information about the consultation is widely accessible to all interested parties on the Department for Transport website www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation.  DfT are also holding a series of public meetings and exhibitions in the communities around the airport, details of which can be found on their website.

For more details, visit www.dft.gov.uk/heathrowconsultation

OR some of the groups which are fighting this change, like Friends of the earth: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/transport/case_studies/heathrow.html

OR why not have your say and vote in our poll?  We will be writing off to the Minister for Transport with the results of this poll near the end of the consultation period. http://