Frank Augstein/AP
By
Hazel Speed
When reading a poignant comment within a recent article I was most touched to see one by someone whose home may receive a Compulsory Purchase Order, no doubt, if Hexit goes ahead “I would lose my house community and friends.”
There are lots of possible forms of protests and appeals, i.e. Hexit strategies yet to play out and which may delay and perhaps block a new runway/expansion from going ahead.
Then there has been up to now, considerations of other possible airports which could have been chosen as more suitable, such as Gatwick or Stansted.
Design issues, whatever the location, can be another cause of worry, such as an extended runway going over a motorway!
Statistically, it is inevitable that one day some major disaster might happen either from the motorway affecting the flyover runway or a plane ending up on the motorway.
Apparently, the UK pay far less for the value of homes that fall under a Compulsory Purchase Order than is paid in European Countries and other ones.
Children may invariably have to go to new schools and new homes need to be found which may require families moving to another county altogether and then will they find a suitable house regardless of money given to them by the Government under any Compulsory Purchase Order?
Their lives will be changed, one way or another, that is for sure.
Imagine if you, as the reader, are so happy in your existing home (whether you have lived there for a lifetime or just for a little while), perhaps you are now a widow or widower, having lived in your home for a lifetime with your late spouse or partner, (a house/home of happy memories together), or you have a young family and their school age means crucial exams are emerging, yet now a change of school is required. The parents may both have to find new jobs, if any can be found that is, new doctors, dentists and local hospitals also.
Take it from someone who has moved around all their life until an older age, uprooting, albeit once or many times, invariably means emotional loss for the place one has left then fear of the unknown in a new environment and set of circumstances. New friendships have to be made – all will be different, whether for better or worse. The one key point remains, it was not chosen but imposed on people in this situation.
The safety of high volumes of aircraft arriving and departing and cars on nearby motorways, then people of local towns, residential houses and residents going about their daily routines all worries me, yet in this highly populated world what are the alternatives to air traffic increasing?
Airport expansions have to be somewhere and I have noticed in my own local area that flight paths appear to be more frequent and planes flying lower. One can see that Heathrow is an International Hub but other areas are undeveloped in comparison.
So now we have a new term, that of Hexit – those against Heathrow expansion plans.
In the links herein one can read all the facts and figures in respect of the arguments for and against the key locations and other relevant and important data.
I also think some type of monorail should be utilised regarding infrastructures. Such an idea goes back to 1965! It was said on a recent Any Questions that the UK needs airport expansion, as well as modern infrastructure within local towns, cities and to London. In other words, all these interlinking systems are needed even if one set of links can be achieved at a time.
Likewise the old cross country rail systems and re-opening of Beeching rail routes. No more road/rail crossings should be operational as they still cost lives, as would aircraft runways over motorways. Disaster waiting to happen.
Above all, even if wonderful new developments are built for whatever reason, we must not forget that paramount to it all must be the health, wealth, homes and happiness of the people of the UK whose benefit we are told this is all being done in respect thereof. Sometimes I wonder as such statements are often similes for business but we must not forget that the business of living a happy and fulfilled life is what it is all about.
Hexit is going to be a lot more difficult to resolve than Brexit I think.
Oh for the wisdom of Solomon!
Hazel Speed
Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine
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