Petitions

Petition

Monday 20 April 2009

OBSERVATIONS

Transport

Planning and Development (Heathrow)

The Petition of the Supporters of the Campaign to Save Cherry Lane Cemetery,

Declares that the proposal by the British Airports Authority to construct an access road to the proposed Third Runway and Sixth Terminal at Heathrow Airport through Cherry Lane Cemetery, which is the only functioning cemetery in this part of the London Borough of Hillingdon, is an act of outrageous, sacrilegious destruction, which is causing considerable distress to the families of loved ones buried at the cemetery and concern to the local community.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon the Government to reject this proposal and safeguard this site.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by John McDonnell, Official Report, 11 March 2009; Vol. 489, c. 403.]

[P000331]

The Petition of the Supporters of the Campaign to Save Cherry Lane Cemetery,

Declares that the proposal by the British Airports Authority to construct an access road to the proposed Third Runway and Sixth Terminal at Heathrow Airport through Cherry Lane Cemetery, which is the only functioning cemetery in this part of the London Borough of Hillingdon, is an act of outrageous, sacrilegious destruction, which is causing considerable distress to the families of loved ones buried at the cemetery and concern to the local community.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon the Government to reject this proposal and safeguard this site.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. Nick Hurd, Official Report, 11 March 2009; Vol. 489, c. 403.]

[P000333]

The Petition of the Supporters of the Campaign to Save Cherry Lane Cemetery,

Declares that the proposal by the British Airports Authority to construct an access road to the proposed Third Runway and Sixth Terminal at Heathrow Airport through Cherry Lane Cemetery, which is the only functioning cemetery in this part of the London Borough of Hillingdon, is an act of outrageous, sacrilegious destruction, which is causing considerable distress to the families of loved ones buried at the cemetery and concern to the local community.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls upon the Government to reject this proposal and safeguard this site.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Mr. John Randall, Official Report, 11 March 2009; Vol. 489, c. 404.]

[P000334]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport, received 7 April 2009:

The Government acknowledges the concerns expressed over the protection of Cherry Lane Cemetery in Hillingdon, but believes they are unfounded. Plans published as part of the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation in November 2007 illustrating access roads to an expanded airport were clearly marked as “indicative”. They did not purport to show the proposed third runway precinct or road layout in any detail because, pending consultation, such plans were necessarily at an early stage.

With policy support for a third runway and sixth terminal having been announced in January, it is now for the airport operator, BAA, to develop final details and bring forward a formal planning application. I understand that BAA are very much aware of public concerns about Cherry Lane Cemetery and have, following engagement with Cherry Lane Against Development, confirmed that they will only develop schemes that avoid the cemetery.