From Hounslow Pess Release:
Following a challenge to the Government's third runway proposal, brought by the London Borough of Hounslow and others - the government's Heathrow policy has been left in tatters this morning.
The High Court ruled that ministers' decision to give a green light to the proposed third runway does not hold any weight with the judge dismissing the government's claims to the contrary as 'untenable in law and common sense'.
If the government wants to pursue its plans for Heathrow expansion it must now go back to square one and reconsider the entire case for the runway.
The implications of today's ruling are profound, not just for Heathrow but for airport expansion plans across the UK. Lord Justice Carnwath ruled that the 2003 Air Transport White Paper - the foundation of expansion plans across the country - is obsolete because it is inconsistent with the Climate Change Act 2008.
Cllr Ruth Cadbury, Deputy Leader of the council’s Labour group, said:
“Today’s ruling is a fantastic result, and one that could finally signal the end of the threat of a third runway, which has been hanging over our heads for years.
“We have long said that the economic arguments didn’t add up, and that the noise and pollution arising from the associated transport infrastructure – which hasn’t even been properly planned – would have a direct negative impact on Hounslow residents and businesses, and it’s great that this has been acknowledged.”
The judge expressed real concern over the "hardship caused to the local community by uncertainty" over the third runway. The coalition which brought the successful legal challenge is now calling on the government to end the uncertainty and scrap the runway plans once and for all.
The judge ruled that:
If the government decides to push ahead with the runway project it must now review the climate change implications of Heathrow expansion, the economic case for a third runway, and the issue of how additional passengers would get to a bigger airport.
The government's entire aviation policy must now be reviewed to take into account the implications of the 2008 Climate Change Act. The judge found that "the claimants' submissions add up, in my view, to a powerful demonstration of the potential significance of developments in climate change policy since the 2003 Air Transport White Paper. They are clearly matters which will need to be taken into account under the new Airports National Policy Statement."
On the economic case for Heathrow expansion he would be 'surprised' if the recent tripling of the estimated cost to society of emitting carbon did not have 'a significant effect' on the economic case for the runway. The judge also said that "it makes no sense to treat the economic case as settled in 2003."
On the issue of surface access he said the claimants' case - that there is no credible plan in place to transport millions of extra passengers to an expanded Heathrow - was 'justified'. Significantly, he noted that the government was "unable to provide a convincing answer" in court when it was pressed about over-crowding on the Piccadilly underground line that would result from construction of a third runway.
The judge is now inviting the government to sign a legally binding undertaking that it will not base future aviation policy solely on its 2003 white paper. A further court hearing is expected to take place next month to examine the government's response to the judge's request. At the same hearing the coalition will seek costs and fully expects to recover those costs from the government.
Hounslow’s leader, Cllr Peter Thompson, added: "This is a spectacular victory for our residents. The government had been trying to close down debate on the true economic impact of a third runway by presenting it as a done deal.
“Today’s ruling has blown that position apart. The government just did not want to have to take on board the real consequences of new climate change laws. The judge made it clear the figures just did not add up.
“If after this ministers are still intent on pressing ahead with expansion they will have to go back to the beginning and justify the whole economic case in public. Knowing what we now know about rising carbon costs this is an argument they cannot win.
“The third runway is effectively dead because it cannot survive the proper economic and environmental scrutiny which the government tried to avoid. As local councils we call on the prime minister to do to the decent thing and bury this discredited policy.”
David Nussbaum, chief executive of World Wildlife Fund UK added: "We are delighted with today's judgement. It deals a body blow to the third runway, but more than that it makes it clear that the government's whole policy of airport expansion must be reviewed in order to bring it into line with the Climate Change Act."
The challenge was brought by Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead councils with support from Kensington and Chelsea, Transport for London and the Mayor of London.The councils were joined by the local residents group (Notrag), aircraft noise campaigners HACAN, World Wildlife Fund UK, Campaign to Protect Rural England and Greenpeace. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was an expert witness. Some representatives from these groups are pictured above.
The local authorities are all members of the 2M Group which comprises 24 local councils opposed to Heathrow expansion with a combined population of 5 million.
For further information on the challenge visit www.2MGroup.org.uk.
Friday, 26 March 2010
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Figures showing the Demand for a Mixed School for Brentford
Our post-bag is full from Brentford parents who have been disapointed that their first child going to secondary school has not been allocated a place at their first or second choice. Over a year ago I pointed out to the Director of Children's services the imbalance of secondary school provision in Brentford, as population increases meant our nearest mixed schools were no longer able to allocate places to Brentford children. Allocations for school places are done strictly by distance from school (and ignore Borough boundaries). As effective catchment areas shrink inwards, Brentford families aren't being offered places in any of our nearest mixed schools. Our nearest is Elthorne Park (up Boston Manor Road), then Chiswick, then Lampton and Hounslow Manor. Our kids can get into Isleworth & Syon, and Brentford School for Girls, but for many single-sex is not the choice they want.
I now have the figures for TW8 applicants for next year's Year 7 entry, and what schools they were offered places at and it shows the stark imbalance between preference and availability. (As we have an integrated pan-London system, every child gets one offer.)
Of 185 TW8 children, 119 were allocated their first choice school, 22 their second choice, 22 their 3rd, 4th ,5th or 6 choice), and 21 were allocated a school that they didn’t choose at all - all Hounslow Manor.
However this masks the picture as most of those who got their first choice school will have got in on the sibling rule (an older sibling already at the school gets priority over other applicants.) – I have asked for the figures with the siblings taken off, and hope I don’t need to wait as long as I did for the figures this is based on which arrived on Friday evening.
How did allocations match people’s choices?
For mixed schools, 46 put Chiswick their first or second choice, only 18 got it.
37 put Lampton 1st or 2nd, but 3 got in.
33 put Elthorne Park, 8 got in,
7 Twyford but 3 got in.
Only 8 actively chose Hounslow Manor, yet 28 have been allocated to that school.
For single-sex: 43 put Green their 1st or 2nd choice, and 13 got in,
34 Isleworth & Syon 1st or 2nd,with 35 being allocated,
30 put Brentford 1st or 2nd choice and 35 got in.
The demand from this is clearly for a mixed school. The Director of Children's Services says there is not (yet) a shortage of school places in the borough. But this mismatch of preference/available places from Brentford parents does point to making Brentford School for Girls a mixed school very soon, while we work towards the longer-term of getting a new secondary school.
I now have the figures for TW8 applicants for next year's Year 7 entry, and what schools they were offered places at and it shows the stark imbalance between preference and availability. (As we have an integrated pan-London system, every child gets one offer.)
Of 185 TW8 children, 119 were allocated their first choice school, 22 their second choice, 22 their 3rd, 4th ,5th or 6 choice), and 21 were allocated a school that they didn’t choose at all - all Hounslow Manor.
However this masks the picture as most of those who got their first choice school will have got in on the sibling rule (an older sibling already at the school gets priority over other applicants.) – I have asked for the figures with the siblings taken off, and hope I don’t need to wait as long as I did for the figures this is based on which arrived on Friday evening.
How did allocations match people’s choices?
For mixed schools, 46 put Chiswick their first or second choice, only 18 got it.
37 put Lampton 1st or 2nd, but 3 got in.
33 put Elthorne Park, 8 got in,
7 Twyford but 3 got in.
Only 8 actively chose Hounslow Manor, yet 28 have been allocated to that school.
For single-sex: 43 put Green their 1st or 2nd choice, and 13 got in,
34 Isleworth & Syon 1st or 2nd,with 35 being allocated,
30 put Brentford 1st or 2nd choice and 35 got in.
The demand from this is clearly for a mixed school. The Director of Children's Services says there is not (yet) a shortage of school places in the borough. But this mismatch of preference/available places from Brentford parents does point to making Brentford School for Girls a mixed school very soon, while we work towards the longer-term of getting a new secondary school.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Mercedes Re-opening
With my petrol-head son and Matt, I went to the re-launch of the Merc garage/showroom on the A4/Clayponds junction this week. I'm not generally a fan of fossil-fuel consuming tin cans made ever more luxurious for some reason beyond the basic function of getting from A-B when there is no other relieable alternative.
Nevertheless the palce is impressive, with it's vertical tower storing 16 cars, and high-tech service bay. It also employs more people than ever, proving that the Golden Mile is heading back to it's original role of employing many people in skilled roles in iconic buildings. The old Gillette building will open as a hotel in the next few months, behind which there will be a number of high-tech business units. Hopefully we'll see the rest of the vacant sites along the Golden Mile developed before long.
Nevertheless the palce is impressive, with it's vertical tower storing 16 cars, and high-tech service bay. It also employs more people than ever, proving that the Golden Mile is heading back to it's original role of employing many people in skilled roles in iconic buildings. The old Gillette building will open as a hotel in the next few months, behind which there will be a number of high-tech business units. Hopefully we'll see the rest of the vacant sites along the Golden Mile developed before long.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
New Secondary School for Brentford Needed Now!!
Matt Harmer and I met a small group of very angry Year 6 parents this week - whose children had not been offered a place at any of the schools they had put on their forms. They either had been offered Hounslow Manor or none at all.
As we have no mixed secondary school in Brentford, most people apply for Elthorne Park or Chiswick. Green is also popular for some families. However, unless families already have a child in one of those schools, no-one from Brentford is being offered a place. I am not sure what the situation is for Isleworth & Syon - would welcome an update.
The reason we are in this situation is that there are more children than ever in the system, our local schools are very popular, and there has not been sufficient expansion of places to keep up. The applications system is based on distance from the school (after siblings have been offered a place) and people who live at any distance from any mixed secondary school havn't got a hope of being given an offer.
Over the last year or two I have met with the Director of Children's Services twice on this issue.
With the email in-box bulging on the issues, and meeting several parents too, on Friday I wrote to the Director asking; a) what progress there is on the idea of getting a new school for Brentford, and
b) whether any of the local schools could have a "bulge" class for September. I will let you know the response.
Some parents have asked if Brentford School for Girls could become a mixed school.. We would be interested in views on that. It is a popular school, but a significant proportion of the students come from some distance, and from other boroughs. It is felt that if it was mixed it might serve local residents better.
Views welcome!
As we have no mixed secondary school in Brentford, most people apply for Elthorne Park or Chiswick. Green is also popular for some families. However, unless families already have a child in one of those schools, no-one from Brentford is being offered a place. I am not sure what the situation is for Isleworth & Syon - would welcome an update.
The reason we are in this situation is that there are more children than ever in the system, our local schools are very popular, and there has not been sufficient expansion of places to keep up. The applications system is based on distance from the school (after siblings have been offered a place) and people who live at any distance from any mixed secondary school havn't got a hope of being given an offer.
Over the last year or two I have met with the Director of Children's Services twice on this issue.
With the email in-box bulging on the issues, and meeting several parents too, on Friday I wrote to the Director asking; a) what progress there is on the idea of getting a new school for Brentford, and
b) whether any of the local schools could have a "bulge" class for September. I will let you know the response.
Some parents have asked if Brentford School for Girls could become a mixed school.. We would be interested in views on that. It is a popular school, but a significant proportion of the students come from some distance, and from other boroughs. It is felt that if it was mixed it might serve local residents better.
Views welcome!
Thursday, 4 March 2010
MBE for Hounslow Language Service
I was honoured to be invited to Sunday evening's celebration of Roz Carter's MBE, to be given to her by the Queen in April. Roz set up and ran HLS until her retirement a couple of years ago. Through her leadership and continuing legacy HLS is respected nationally and internationally for the quality of support given to teaching children with little or no English language capability. The service has meant that Hounslow's children who arrive in our schools not speaking or understanding English, achieve results that are as good as or better than locally-born children - and that Hounslow's school results are a massive success story across the board.
Until this year, HLS was funded through the Government's EMAG (Ethnic Minorities Acheivement)grant with an additional £500k of direct council funding. Both the grant and the central funding were pooled, with the specialist teachers being centrally employed and trained, then being allocated to the schools as needed. HLS has developed a body of knowledge and professional expertise that can be shared among their specialist teachers and with schools, to ensure the best start for children. This expertise is so valued that the Government's London Challenge scheme is funding HLS to spread that knowledge with schools and local authorities across London. Apparently, many schools in other areas treat EAL (English as an Additional Language) children as though they have "special needs", when many will have been in school since their early years in their birth country.
The council funding meant that the teachers were allocated to schools according to both the need in terms of numbers in a school, and where possible matching teachers speaking the language of the pupils. One school may have several HLS specialist language teachers visiting them during the week. It also means, that as happened at one local school, that if on the first day of term, several children arrive unexpectedly speaking only Polish, HLS can provide a Polish-speaking teacher immediately to support those children through their first few days in school. This is incredibly valuable for schools with children who have many different home languages, and the kind of support that will not be available now.
A year ago the Tories running Hounslow pushed through the cut of the central funding - £1/2 million. As a result HLS is being virtually broken up. Those schools with sufficient EMAG grant are employing teachers directly - probably only one at each school, so the range of languages available to a school is gone. The professional support and learning is decimated, and some schools are using their grant to employ teaching assistants to provide specialist language support which should be provided by qualified and properly trained teachers. We opposed the cut last year, but to no avail, despite overwhelming support received in the way of petitions, letters, phone calls and meetings. Unfortunately it fell on deaf ears - many of the Tory group thought HLS was a mother-tongue service. Most had no interest in the needs of children arriving in our schools and who need all the tools they can to integrate and play an active part in our society.
A sad day indeed, and an insult to Roz Carter and all she acheived over 28 years.
Until this year, HLS was funded through the Government's EMAG (Ethnic Minorities Acheivement)grant with an additional £500k of direct council funding. Both the grant and the central funding were pooled, with the specialist teachers being centrally employed and trained, then being allocated to the schools as needed. HLS has developed a body of knowledge and professional expertise that can be shared among their specialist teachers and with schools, to ensure the best start for children. This expertise is so valued that the Government's London Challenge scheme is funding HLS to spread that knowledge with schools and local authorities across London. Apparently, many schools in other areas treat EAL (English as an Additional Language) children as though they have "special needs", when many will have been in school since their early years in their birth country.
The council funding meant that the teachers were allocated to schools according to both the need in terms of numbers in a school, and where possible matching teachers speaking the language of the pupils. One school may have several HLS specialist language teachers visiting them during the week. It also means, that as happened at one local school, that if on the first day of term, several children arrive unexpectedly speaking only Polish, HLS can provide a Polish-speaking teacher immediately to support those children through their first few days in school. This is incredibly valuable for schools with children who have many different home languages, and the kind of support that will not be available now.
A year ago the Tories running Hounslow pushed through the cut of the central funding - £1/2 million. As a result HLS is being virtually broken up. Those schools with sufficient EMAG grant are employing teachers directly - probably only one at each school, so the range of languages available to a school is gone. The professional support and learning is decimated, and some schools are using their grant to employ teaching assistants to provide specialist language support which should be provided by qualified and properly trained teachers. We opposed the cut last year, but to no avail, despite overwhelming support received in the way of petitions, letters, phone calls and meetings. Unfortunately it fell on deaf ears - many of the Tory group thought HLS was a mother-tongue service. Most had no interest in the needs of children arriving in our schools and who need all the tools they can to integrate and play an active part in our society.
A sad day indeed, and an insult to Roz Carter and all she acheived over 28 years.
Budget Farce
Tuesday night we had an intersting night where Phil Andrews claimed independence (from the Tories) for less than half an hour.
The budget proposed by the Conservatives was originally voted down.
After a 20 minute break, it emerged that £250,000 was to be made available for unspecified 'community uses'. The ICG leadership then supported the budget.
This was a shoddy deal with no indication as to where the money would come from or what it was going to be spent on. It just proves that the
Conservatives and the ICG are happy to waste residents' money in order
to please themselves. If this money was available, why isn't it being spent on proper public services? They are wasting residents' money while services get worse.
The rest of the Tory cuts remained, with the exception of the removal of the school uniform grants, and the subsidy for community use of school buildings. Lets hope there's still some admin staff available to administer the grants to the families on very low incomes who really need help with these costs.
The budget proposed by the Conservatives was originally voted down.
After a 20 minute break, it emerged that £250,000 was to be made available for unspecified 'community uses'. The ICG leadership then supported the budget.
This was a shoddy deal with no indication as to where the money would come from or what it was going to be spent on. It just proves that the
Conservatives and the ICG are happy to waste residents' money in order
to please themselves. If this money was available, why isn't it being spent on proper public services? They are wasting residents' money while services get worse.
The rest of the Tory cuts remained, with the exception of the removal of the school uniform grants, and the subsidy for community use of school buildings. Lets hope there's still some admin staff available to administer the grants to the families on very low incomes who really need help with these costs.
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