Don't Forget The Villagers

Case study 1)

One of those most severely affected by the inaction of BAA is Rob Fodder and his family.
Mr Fodder lives in Meadow Lea Close, Harmondsworth, in a one bedroom flat with his girlfriend.
He has been trying to move home since 2002 and put his property on the market, only for runway proposals to be announced a week later, effectively killing the property market in the area.
In the years that have passed, the couple had a baby daughter, who is now two years old, and have converted their bedroom into a nursery for her, meaning the couple must now sleep on a mattress in their front room.
Mr Fodder, who has worked for British Airways for 22 years, said: "It is ridiculous BAA can't purchase the properties, there are those of us who need to move on with our lives.
"Its OK to invest £1 billion into the new Terminal 2, £1 billion into Gatwick and £90 million into buying properties at Stansted- two airports that may not even be in their possession soon, but they are not prepared to release one to two per cent of that figure to ease the suffering of the people in untenable circumstances.
"We attended a public meeting in May where around 600-700 people attended and we were told a solution was imminent, but we are still waiting."
Three times Mr Fodder has been close to securing a move to properties elsewhere, all for it to fall through at the last minute because of the BAA bond on his home.
"Over half of my possessions are in storage and this whole episode is taking it's toll.
"It is affecting the health of my family physically and mentally through the stress we are under and our relationship is being severely tested.
"We have had no support or protection from the Government or BAA even though we are in this situation through no fault of our own.
"When and if the time does come that we have to look again for properties, we have to look outside of the area because the 'compensation' given does not cover the cost of an equivalent property in the area.
"I have looked into the possibility of having temporary accommodation and even enlisting onto the Government sponsored Homebuy scheme, but because I own a property, I do not qualify."
Mr Fodder attended a specially convened meeting with MP John McDonnell and Mike Forster from BAA last week, but does not believe it leaves him any closer to a resolution.
"It lasted over an hour and John was brilliant, at the end he stormed out because he was so frustrated that nothing was being done."

Case study 2)

OTHERS are more reluctant to give up their homes, but the waiting and uncertainty is beginning to force their hand.
One of these is Lynne Davies, a 61 year old woman who lives in Sipson Lane, Sipson, next door to the village Post Office.
She has lived in the quiet village nearly all her life and is committed to fighting the runway, and believes if she is forced to move then she should be offered a fair deal.
She said: "What right do the airport have to evict me from my home? I like where I live.
"l have lived next door to my sister for over 40 years, do BAA give a damn?
"l have looked into buying a home nearer my son and at the moment l live in a four bed semi and all l can afford is a two bed terrace.
"If BAA want me to go, let them find me another four bed home in a village near my son in Eastcote and let them foot the bill.
"I want a good property and do not want to live on a council estate, that's not me being snobby, I just want like for like.
"My neighbour is 85 and can't get to demonstrations and meetings, she is too old to fight it, what is going to happen to her?
"All anybody ever talks about in the village is the runway, it has become our lives, people are still trying to work and survive the recession, but fight for their homes at the same time.
"I have been here since 1968 and have seen many changes, unfortunately none for the better.
"This runway has taken eight years out of our lives and we are still fighting."
Ms Davies' front garden is adorned with No Third Runway signs and banners and has become representative of feelings in the villages.
"People from abroad often stop to chat, and when I tell them how little we are being offered they cannot believe it.
"My cousin lives in France and when the French built the channel tunnel link, those who were displaced got two or three times the value of their homes to start a life elsewhere, what is happening to us is not right."

Case study 3)

Maxine Payne has lived in the village of Sipson since the eighties
She believes everybody's circumstance is different and just wants a resolution to the whole sorry scenario for everyone.
Mrs Payne and husband Jim, of Vincent Close, Sipson, have been there their whole married life with husband Jim and their two children, who are now aged 16 and 18 and they were taught at Heathrow Primary.
"Its not just a house its our home, life for everybody here has been ruined.
"The uncertainty and the stress is devastating, imagine not knowing if your children are going to complete school.
"People need to get on with their lives, this must be managed on a timescale.
"For a company to have an unlimited timescale on our homes is a complete disaster for anybody, we all have a right to a family life.
"We are still fighting for the protection of the villages, there needs to be permanent closure.
"There are elderly people here who have no intention of moving out.
"But at the same time people who want to move or need to move are stuck in limbo.
"If they want to sell, the values are extremely cheap, which is not fair especially for those who have worked all their life and just retired.
"We want to keep the quality of a village life, and if we moved out we could not maintain the same quality of life, which is not fair, we are not being offered an adequate replacement.
"We attended a public meeting in May and were told there would be action in weeks but we are still waiting.
"We have all heard promises before but nothing comes through.
"In a perfect world those who want to leave should be allowed to, and the runway would be scrapped, and the homes would be bought by families, and the village can live again."

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