I urge everyone who is either potentially affected or with an interest in the Buckinghamshire economy and our environment to attend a consultation event and understand the implications, benefits and costs of expansion at Heathrow.

Heathrow is the country’s premier international gateway and post-Brexit, it’s even more important that we are a strong globally focused economy. The start of the consultation process today includes proposals on the way that future airspace changes could be considered. It is important that we can all have our say.

The County Council’s support for Heathrow expansion has recognised the national interest but has always been linked to large-scale mitigation of its impact, particularly for the towns and villages of south Buckinghamshire, and the Iver area in particular.

Working with other Councils and Heathrow Airports Limited we will be setting out what mitigation is needed and demanding that road and other improvements are delivered in a timely fashion to protect our residents, businesses and the Colne Valley Park.‘

On Saturday 11th March 2017 the Department for Transport will be running a consultation event for Buckinghamshire which will take place at Colston Hall in Gerrards Cross. However residents and businesses can attend any of the consultation events in February and March 2017.

Following the consultation the responses will be considered by Government. The National Policy Statement will be considered and voted on by Parliament later in 2017 before it is designated by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Heathrow Airport will then bring forward an application to expand Heathrow including a third runway which will be considered at Examination before a final decision by the Secretary of State.

The National Policy Statement can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/aviation-and-airports.