Anti-airport council attacked

Supporters of Heathrow expansion say local democracy in Hillingdon has hit a new low after the council banned a petition on its website which calls for an end to the use of taxpayers’ money on its legal challenge to the airport development.

The petition says the council should start co-operating with Heathrow instead “so residents can benefit from new jobs and prosperity when the new runway is completed”.

The resident who submitted the document was told it fell foul of petition rules because “it seeks to directly overturn a fundamental, democratically approved policy of the council where there has been substantial consultation on the matter”.

The resident said: “I am shocked that the council can use this tactic to avoid listening to what is a serious issue for residents, who are angry that the council has spent more than £1m of public money on legal fees and funding anti-expansion groups.

“They (the council) refuse to listen or engage even when they know opinion has shifted and people have changed their mind.”

The matter has now been taken up by the Back Heathrow group. Executive director Parmjit Dhanda said: “Local politicians are in danger of bringing themselves into disrepute. They are elected to engage with, not ignore, their residents.”

www.backheathrow.org

www.hillingdon.gov.uk

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