| Minutes of 2007 Annual General Meeting
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West Ealing Neighbours
2007 AGM MINUTES 22nd JANUARY 2008
ST JAMES CHURCH
Introduction
David Highton gave a short report back on activities in 2007. The year saw the end of the tram as a result of the Government's backing of Crossrail. Now the big subject for WEN is the regeneration of West Ealing including Green Man Lane Estate. Plans are afoot for Ealing Centre and The Leaf. WEN is one of the founders of Save Ealing Centre. SEC is not against the regeneration of Ealing but the key is to manage the regeneration and not overdevelop. WEN has also been as active partner in SEAL and we hope to hear positive news soon on the future of Ealing's Edwardian lampposts.
Elections The proposal to elect the committee members:
Chair David Highton
Vice Chair Eric Leach
Secretary Diane Gill
Treasurer Andrew Cazalet
Membership Secretary Emma Hunter
Without portfolio Gill Adams
Nick Greenhalgh
Frank Proud
Allan Soper
The proposal was seconded by Robert Darke and the committee was formally elected.
Emma Hunter replaces Nick Greenhalgh as membership secretary. WEN would like to thank Nick for all his efforts.
Neighbourhood Watch
The police had a short session on Neighbourhood Watch and they are looking for a Co-ordinator to act as liaison between police and the community. Anyone interested should contact WEN for more details (westealingneighbours@gmail.com)
HEATHROW DEBATE - SPEAKERS LORD CLIVE SOLEY AND NIC FERRIDAY
The arguments for the additional runway from Lord Clive Soley of Future Heathrow
Lord Soley argued that Heathrow is in decline versus other major European airports and competitors in Europe. In 1990 Heathrow flew to 220 destinations. In 2008 it's 180. He compared the decline to Docklands and the fact that this took many years to regenerate.
Heathrow is the largest single site employer in the UK with 20,000 employees. One in ten that live in Hounslow work at Heathrow. In addition tens of thousand of jobs are reliant on Heathrow.
A poll was undertaken and 50% of those surveyed support and extra runway.
Last year Munich overtook Heathrow for most flights and destinations.
Lord Soley admitted that there would be more noise with more flights but believes this should be offset against the economic advantages.
A hub airport has to fly you to other places; Frankfurt does just that. There is also the European central bank in Frankfurt and the eastern European market.
Overall in summary Lord Soley argued the noise pollution is a small price to pay for the economic advantages an extra runway will bring.
The arguments against the additional runway from Nick Ferriday Of HACAN ClearSkies
Nick Farraday is concerned with a whole range of environmental issues as well as the social and economic impact.
Heathrow is congested and flying caters only for well off individuals with high average incomes (£70k pa). Fares are artificially low due to no taxes.
HACAN are primarily concerned with noise, West Ealing is not protected so there is no consultation. The measure is 57 decibels averaged over the whole day so if under this then the area is not affected.
Air pollution is also an issue and has prevented the government for giving the go ahead. GLA state that there are 1,000 deaths per year. Limits have been imposed by the EU. London is just in the EU limits from a study they conducted.
Safety - Heathrow is the most dangerous in the country for people on the ground.
There are no plans to improve railways and congestion on the roads is already high.
Climate change - with an extra runway this will worsen.
All other environmental organisations are also against the extra runway as well as local authorities in the West London area. HACAN are fully aware of the claimed economic argument and they don't need much convincing about the other issues like noise, air pollution and climate change.
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 February 2008 ) |
