The phase NIMBY certainly does not apply to all who campaign against expansion at Heathrow.

Our local Friends of the Earth groups are not saying that all the expansion should go to airports other than Heathrow.

They are saying it is high time to question the need to encourage and meet this `demand' anywhere. Air travel is by far the most polluting way of transport both at ground level and in the stratosphere. High flying planes like Concorde have been shown to deplete the ozone layer; a single transatlantic flight will create more climate changing gases than thousands of car journeys.

Aircraft also release nitrogen oxides which are believed to aggravate breathing problems.

West London Friends of the Earth does not believe that the "answer" lies in building elsewhere, or tinkering with minor restrictions here and there.

We believe that the tide should be turned on the increase in flights.

SIMON TOMPSETT

Richmond & Twickenham Friends of the Earth

55 Heath Road

Twickenham

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.