A LABOUR parliamentary candidate has called for openness from the Conservatives about plans to build a rail terminal close to Heathrow airport.
John McDonnell , who is standing in Hayes and Harlington, the seat he occupied until last week's election starting gun was fired, said: "I don't think local people have fully woken up to the potential threat this terminal proposal poses to West Drayton, Harmondsworth and Longford.
"I don't blame them, because the Conservatives have provided no information on their plans locally, and I suspect that the full scale and implications of the proposed terminal are being kept under wraps until after the election.
"Many of us have been here before, with the runway threat, and know how these major development companies and politicians operate.
"The more you examine the terminal plans, the more you are fearful. We now know it isn't just a passenger terminal planned under Conservative proposals but also a possible major freight depot and a line through, close to the villages of Harmondsworth and Longford.
"The impact from noise, pollution and heavy vehicle traffic to and from a freight depot could be devastating.
"The government's alternative proposed terminal at Old Oak Common gives us the Heathrow link we wanted to overcome the need for a third runway, and has been welcomed by the local community. We now have to examine the implications for our community in real detail and make our voice heard."
Scott Seaman-Digby, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hayes and Harlington, said the route would be established, with a full consultation, after the election.
He said: "While there is consensus among the parties for the need for high-speed rail, only the Conservatives have proposed to link Heathrow directly to the high-speed network as a replacement for Labour's third runway.
"Only a direct route can make high-speed rail a viable alternative to thousands of short-haul flights - the equivalent of 30 per cent of the total capacity of the third runway, or 50 per cent of Labour's proposed cap on its use.
"The Conservative Party's policy is clear and has always been consistent - Heathrow should be better, not bigger.
"We will conduct work on our route after an election, if we are in government, and communities will be properly consulted on the route we propose.
"For Labour to try to paint high-speed rail as a threat in any way comparable to their disastrous third runway is malicious and wrong. It is this Labour government which plans to build a third runway against the wishes of local people, leading businessmen and environmental groups. Even the High Court has called on Labour to think again.
"A direct high-speed line to Heathrow will be a good thing for Hayes and Harlington.
"As well as substantially reducing the number of short-haul flights from Heathrow, making the third runway unnecessary, it will also open up greatly improved transport links to the communities in Hayes and Harlington.
"Only a Conservative government can ensure the third runway will not go ahead, but be replaced by a world-class high-speed rail network."
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