Author Archives: Robin Meltzer

Heathrow: As the Conservatives’ brief flirtation with anti-expansion comes to an end, the Lib Dem fight continues

By Robin Meltzer | Tue 17th December 2013 - 12:30 pm

Overheard at a bus stop on the Kew Road last week:

Visitor: “What’s the matter with that plane?”
Resident: “Nothing.”
Visitor: “But it’s so low and loud, is it in trouble?”
Resident: “No, this is Richmond.”

Overheard this morning on Sky News at 8:15:

Sir Howard Davies: “A relatively small proportion of the population are affected by noise.”

Posted in News | Tagged davies commission and heathrow airport | 14 Comments

Opinion: Heathrow expansion: big money versus public health

By Robin Meltzer | Thu 14th November 2013 - 2:47 pm

This week’s ‘advertorials’ from Heathrow Hub were just the latest example of the role big money plays in the so-called aviation ‘debate’ in West London.

Heathrow Hub, by the way, is not Heathrow airport. In fact the Heathrow Hub website is run by the Maitland PR firm on behalf of business men who have an option on the land around Heathrow. Heathrow’s rival PR team accuse Heathrow Hub (following so far?) of coming up with plans which fail to “provide respite from noise for local residents.” Which may well be true but would probably receive more sympathy from people in my …