I am now beginning to think that my head does need examining for bringing up in Letters to the Editor the question of Heathrow's third runway.
A schoolmarm's classroom ruler waved in the direction of my knuckles from Bedfont, and next being called in to the headmaster's study in Isleworth for a caning or a taste of the tawse!
Having said that, I need no lecturing from Mark Middleton-Smith about politics being a dirty game. As a one time Rhodesian, my life has been disrupted by political decisions and actions that will surpass any discomfort or distress befalling him or his friends in this part of London should aerial activity dramatically intensify over their heads.
It is probable that many, if not most, residents who read this newspaper would like Heathrow Airport to be somewhere else. However, many airport workers may not agree.
I met an elderly lady not so long ago on a 222 bus who told me she had been born in the house that was one of the first to be crushed by the bulldozers when construction of the airport began about 60 years ago. She now has a house in Sipson but said she was quite prepared to see this go too as she was convinced a third runway was in the country's best interests and nothing in all reality could be done to prevent this.
On the other hand I spoke to another bus passenger on another route who had strong views about any expansion and even regretted that Heathrow had been built at all. His opinion was that there was plenty of money available for the construction of another international airport in the east of London and the people concerned were lying about funding not being available for such a project. Two viewpoints to be mulled over?
Incompetence in running Heathrow can surely be overcome by the appointment of a more skilful authority and no doubt a procedure to ensure such a change exists. The question of baggage handling, long security queues and other shortcomings affecting passengers is perhaps a marginal issue.
People whoown and run airlines keep telling us that there is not enough space for planes to land and take off in anticipation of future traffic expectations. It would be a brave man, or woman, to stand up to these airline entrepreneurs and tell them they are wrong. It would also be an act of folly if prolonged heated argument imperilled the nation's financial state.
My mentioning of pension credit was only to acknowledge our government's generosity and to deplore anything that might see the Treasury running low on funds to enable the needy to be cared for and to maintain the general affluence since New Labour came in to power.
No more letters from me on this subject as more pressing issues on an international level are on my mind.
JIM PASQUAL Estridge Close, Hounslow.
