* Sadly the Government have put business before people in giving the go-ahead for Heathrow expansion, with a potential 1,700 people being dragged kicking and screaming out of their homes.

This is with there not being any proven or clear business case for this, nor any clue how they are going to have the less pollutant aircraft which they claim will be in service.

If these were in existence, then we would need to know why they have not been employed already.

Although I respect that people have an allegiance to other parties, who may be against this rape of our historic villages, people's homes (some 500) and our essential Green Belt land, it is evident that the only way of being sure to stop this disastrous plan coming to fruition is to elect a Conservative government at the next general election.

As votes for any party other than the Conservative Party may let Labour back in to build a third runway and sixth terminal, a vote for anyone other than a Conservative candidate will be a vote for the 'Heathrow Clearances,' destruction of our pretty villages and green spaces and additional pollution on top of the already unacceptable levels.

I urge you to 'lend us your vote' at the next general election.

Remember the level of pollution from the airport can cause respiratory problems and shorten lives of your children and grandchildren.

GEOFF COURTENAY,

Hayes and Harlington Conservative Association, Church Road, Hayes.

**THE Government's decision to press ahead with a third runway at Heathrow drives the final nail into the coffin of its climate change policies and will damage the quality of life for all of us in Hillingdon.

A third runway at Heathrow might be what the BAA wants, but it will generate millions of tonnes of additional carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases every year.

The Government seems to think that this does not matter so long as other sectors reduce their emissions, or if the aviation industry can trade carbon to somehow get itself off the hook.

Such creative accounting is as dangerous as it is misleading. Under Labour, UK CO2 emissions have barely changed since 1997, and that's not counting the contributions from international shipping and aviation.

Yet Gordon Brown and his ministers strut around the world claiming to be leading the way in tackling climate change.

As the level of CO2 in the atmosphere continues to rise relentlessly year on year, we face a dangerous and uncertain future.

Yet while science calls us ever more loudly to cut emissions, governments and big business spin and weave in order to avoid their commitments.

The Transport Secretary makes soothing green noises in a pathetic attempt to provide some 'balance' to this dreadful decision, but past bitter experience tells us that promises from successive governments on 'this and no more' on aviation expansion are utterly worthless.

To cram even more jets into the crowded skies over England, Gordon Brown thinks it's fine to allow homes to be bulldozed, to subject hundreds of thousands of people to more noise, to allow ground level air pollution to rise and for millions more tonnes of carbon emissions to be pumped into the atmosphere.

There are other ways that residents can have holidays in Europe than by flying. I have just had a holiday in Switzerland travelling all the way by train.

GRAHAM J LEE,

Hillingdon Green Party, Beech Avenue, Ruislip.

**I WOULD like to take this opportunity to put in writing my wholehearted admiration for my MP Mr John McDonnell for his stance in the House of Commons regarding the expansion of Heathrow.

He has used his exclusion from the 'palace of hypocrisy' to continue the fight against this expansion, which will affect all of us who live in the Hayes area.

Don't think just because you don't live near the airport that it won't affect you. If this runway is built then the planes will be using new flight paths which will impact on every area in Hayes.

While now we can hear the planes when the wind is in a particular direction, we will have to endure this noise all the time.

If you have one ounce of common sense, then all of us should help the people in Sipson in their fight to retain their homes and locality. If you hear of a meeting against the expansion, then attend, make all our voices

heard so that this government, who values planes above people, has to listen to our united cry: 'We will not tolerate any further expansion.'

Put a 'No third runway' poster in your window, sign petitions, so nobody is any doubt about how all the people of Hayes feel.

And remember, when the next elections come round, be they national or local, the Labour MP and all the Labour councillors have opposed this expansion 100 per cent.

MARY HYDE,

by email.

***JUST a year after the crash landing of a Boeing 777 at Heathrow, we have seen another near-miraculous outcome in the landing of the Airbus 320 in the Hudson River.

In both cases, people on nearby busy streets, as well as plane pasengers, had hair's breadth escapes.

On the issue of a third runway, we cannot expect our government to be swayed by the dangers of carbon emissions and other pollutants, not to mention the displacement of 700 households and the destruction of an entire community.

These issues are already well known to government and have been discounted.

But the risk to the general population as well as air passengers in the event of a major air disaster should now be the clinching argument against expansion of Heathrow.

ALISON TERRINGTON, by email.

**COPY of letter sent to 10, Downing Street [edited].

I HAVE recently been completely disheartened by what I used to think was 'our' government.

It seems you and certain members of your party have forgotten what the word democracy means.

When you gave your acceptance speech you said:

"The last 10 years have taught me that the best preparation for governing is not meetings in Whitehall. The best preparation for governing is listening to the British people."

How can we trust you when you clearly aren't listening to the British people?

The people don't want or feel the need for a third runway. The decision has been made undemocratically, and is, quite frankly, making a mockery of your government.

Have you forgotten that you informed us your visits around the country enlightened you to the more pressing challenges, to which we must respond?

One of the challenges you said you observed was families who want to do the right thing for our environment and who want to know that their choices make a difference.

I believe that deep down inside your soul you know this is wrong; anyone with common sense knows this is wrong.

I suggest you do three things, Prime Minister; serve harder, try harder, listen harder. There has clearly been a breakdown between what we actually want and what you think we need.

I will be reconsidering my vote next election. We cannot have a Prime Minister and government which break promises, destroy trust and don't use the one leg our country stands on - democracy.

CHRIS STONE,

by email.