NO to a 3rd runway and NO to mixed mode use

It would be a terrible mistake to imagine that increasing capacity on Heathrow's two existing runways would be somehow less damaging to the environment than building a new third runway. For BAA it would be a dream solution as winning permission to operate each runway almost as a separate airport would deliver almost a third increase in capacity without any of the construction cost of an additional runway.

For communities on both sides of the airport the result would be a non-stop stream of planes overhead throughout the day with no respite at 3pm when they would normally switch runways with only the prospect of some short-term benefits for communities to the northwest of the northern runway.

Using Gatwick as a model it's quite feasible that BAA could, over time, squeeze a further 170,000 flights a year on the two runways – that's almost as much as a third runway would deliver. For now BAA will assure us they only want 60,000 extra flights. But people with long memories will recall the operator's previous broken promises on expansion.

The 2M group, which Camden Council is part of, is an alliance of local authorities concerned at the environmental impact of Heathrow expansion on their communities. We recognised from the start that advocates of expansion would seek to play off one community against another. This is the very reason the 2M coalition was formed. Wherever we live, we believe further expansion at Heathrow is simply unsustainable.

Here in Camden it will mean far more flights over the borough including over Regent’s Park and Hampstead Heath. There will be more air pollution on the ground, more noise overhead and it will make it hard, if not impossible, for the UK to reach its targets for reducing carbon emissions. Visit www.2MGroup.org.uk to find out how operating the existing airport runways in 'mixed mode' would affect you. And please write to Glenda Jackson MP to ask her to change her mind on expansion of Heathrow.