Letter: Threat from the sky
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: James Dalrymple ("My romance with the monster of the jet age", 5 June) describes Heathrow as "Britain's strangest state". To an aeroplane anorak like Dalrymple it is "the ultimate in technical achievement".
To tens of thousands of Londoners it represents the biggest threat to the quality of their lives. The rise and rise of Heathrow from wartime airfield to the world's biggest international airport has resulted in people living as far away as 20 miles from Heathrow experiencing continuous aircraft noise from 6am to 10pm.
New motorways in the sky are springing up all over London to cope with the ever-increasing number of planes heading for Heathrow. Neither councils not local communities have any legal right to object to these new flight paths.
New Labour, so keen on legislation to deal with noisy neighbours, has no clear plans to deal with the "city state" on the edge of London. It will be at least two years before it even begins to draw up the 30-year airport strategy it promised. It has commissioned no research to test the claims of the aircraft industry that a fifth terminal at Heathrow is essential for London's economy.
JOHN STEWART
Chair, ClearSkies
London SW9
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments