An open letter to the new transport minister, Sadiq Khan CONGRATULATIONS on your new post as Minister of State for Transport.

I note you are a school governor, a parent and have been actively involved in human rights issues. Your new post gives you responsibility for leading on transport issues in the Commons, the environment, climate change and Europe.

Hence you are admirably placed to use your best endeavours to ensure the monstrous proposal to build a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow is overthrown.

You cannot be unaware that the party you support is almost alone in its support of this project. The economic case is unproven, but the social and environmental consequences are catastrophic. The data is in the public domain so it is pointless to bombard you with it again.

If you have any care and concern for people - and are serious about human rights issues - this outrage must be addressed.

Since 2002, residents in these communities have been living on death row. A community is to be bulldozed and others left trapped between runways, subjected to increasing noise and pollution. Hardly the New Labour dream!

And of course the wider picture is even bleaker. Civil aircraft in flight contribute to the massive increase in CO2 emissions - the 25 million extra RTMs (runway traffic movements) Heathrow expansion will bring will increase PM10 emissions, which are noxious to human health.

It is time, on economic, social and environmental, human health and climate change grounds, that these plans are dropped.

This is to say nothing of the political consequences - you must be aware that 2M, representing two million Londoners, are against Heathrow expansion.

Will you bring a wind of change, a breath of fresh air? Will you represent parents, children and teachers here who are due to lose many schools because of this inhumane proposal?

Will you be able to look the trapped elderly in the eye and say I did nothing to prevent your remaining years being blighted by pollution and noise, nothing to prevent communities being wiped off the map?

I, along with thousands of others in these communities, look forward to your considered reply - and it would be simply great if you would break with tradition and visit us.

CHRISTINE M SHILLING

Press secretary No Third Runway Action Group

Candover Close Harmondsworth