It will take a compensation package of £150million for residents in Ealing to cope with the impact of a new runway at Heathrow Airport, council leader Julian Bell has warned.
On Tuesday (October 25) government gave its backing for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, which sparked a wave of criticism from campaigners .
Tory MP for Richmond Park Zac Goldsmith resigned from parliament in protest , triggering a by-election in his constituency.
Reacting to the announcement, Labour Councillor Bell said he is demanding a compensation package of £150million from Heathrow Airport to deal with the environmental impact.
Cllr Bell said: "When you already live next door to a notoriously loud party house the last thing you want to see is a van delivering gigantic speakers.
"While we welcome the jobs and economic benefits of Heathrow, a third runway will inevitably cause more noise, pollution and traffic that will damage the quality of life of local people.
"This news will cause serious anxiety for my residents which is why I am demanding a £150million package of measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of a third runway and compensate those affected if the Government is determined to press ahead with this.
"Straight talking and tough negotiating is what is needed if this goes ahead and I will continue to demand Heathrow Airport provides the best compensation deal for the people of Ealing."
His comments were condemned by opposition leader, Conservative Councillor Greg Stafford, who criticised Cllr Bell for not joining other councils in taking legal action against the Governments' proposal.
Heathrow Runway
Cllr Stafford, who accused Ealing Council of "surrendering", said: "Local residents won’t be fooled by warm words about compensation and the Labour Administration should instead be joining the legal fight with other local authorities."
But Cllr Bell hit back, saying: "Ealing Tories are trying to talk tough to cover up the mess their pals in Parliament have caused.
"Will they be resigning the Tory whip like Zac Goldsmith or have they surrendered?"
Flight paths into and out of Heathrow currently affect areas including Norwood Green, Hanwell, Ealing Broadway and Ealing Common, according to chair of Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN), John Stewart.
But it is not yet know which areas will be most affected by the proposed third runway.
'Heathrow is the backbone of the west London economy'
Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma, who previously opposed the expansion before changing his his mind, said: "I’ve changed my mind on Heathrow expansion for the simple reason that Heathrow have engaged, listened and changed their plans.
"Now that Heathrow has accepted the Airports Commission conditions, west London can say 'yes' to the jobs, apprenticeships and investment that expansion will bring.
"Heathrow is the backbone of the west London economy and now that there is appropriate mitigation and compensation in place for local communities, I’m pleased that the Government have made the right decision."
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