Just as residents were breathing a sigh of relief that the government has said no to mixed-mode operation at Heathrow, BAA is about to cancel alternation on westerlies for the next six weeks as part of "essential maintenance" works at the airport. As an internal BAA report confirms:

"Note: This means that:

Whether on easterlies or westerlies the same areas will be overflown"

Alternation will continue during the day on easterly flights during the maintenance work.

Murad said: "BAA insist it’s only mixed mode if planes are taking off and landing on both runways at the same time, but please, spare us the semantics. If you’re under one of these flight paths this means you simply won’t get any respite during the day. The Government may have turned down requests for permanent two-way flying, but BAA seem intent on introducing mixed-mode, however they call it, by hook or by crook."

Murad Qureshi AM added: "The current arrangements ensure alternation which means flights swapping to different flight paths at 3pm each day, so that people underneath get some respite from the flight path above them for part of the day. Suspend alternation and you cancel that respite."

Ends.

Notes

Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Labour Assembly Member and is the Assembly’s Labour Group Environment spokesperson.

BAA are keen to increase flight numbers at Heathrow, but requests for a third runway and the introduction of mixed-mode flying patterns have been turned down by the Government

Runway Alternation

This is the current practice where planes, when they land over West London, switch runways at 3pm. This gives the people in many parts of West London a half day’s break from the noise.

Mixed-Mode

At present, when the landing planes switch runways at 3pm, so do those taking off. It means that planes land and take off from separate runways. If runway alternation is abolished, planes would be landing and taking off from the same runway (at least for part of the day). That is called mixed mode.

Mixed mode flight operations were precluded under the Cranford Agreement, which stood from 1952 until 2009.

Murad represents the London Assembly on the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC)

Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee is an advisory body constituted by Heathrow Airport Limited in respect of Heathrow Airport in accordance with Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982

Presentation given to HACC on 4^{th August 2010 about the planned maintenance works:}

In June 2010 the Assembly passed a motion unanimously opposing mixed mode at Heathrow:

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"This Assembly welcomes the government’s decision to refuse a third runway at Heathrow and the BAA announcement that it would not seek planning permission for a further runway at Heathrow. However, this Assembly would strongly oppose any increase in the number of flights from its airports in and around London by other means, such as mixed mode operations, more night flights or expansion at London’s airports

The Assembly notes the long standing opposition of the Parties in the coalition government to any increase in flights, mixed mode operations, night flights or expansion at London’s airports, and calls on the Government to firmly and openly reject any increase in the number of flights at BAA’s London airports."

Just as residents were breathing a sigh of relief that the government has said no to mixed-mode operation at Heathrow, BAA is about to cancel alternation on westerlies for the next six weeks as part of “essential maintenance” works at the airport.  As an internal BAA report confirms:

 “Note: This means that:

·         Whether on easterlies or westerlies the same areas will be overflown”

Alternation will continue during the day on easterly flights during the maintenance work. 

Murad said:  “BAA insist it’s only mixed mode if planes are taking off and landing on both runways at the same time, but please, spare us the semantics.  If you’re under one of these flight paths this means you simply won’t get any respite during the day.  The Government may have turned down requests for permanent two-way flying, but BAA seem intent on introducing mixed-mode, however they call it, by hook or by crook.” 

Murad Qureshi AM added:  “The current arrangements ensure alternation which means flights swapping to different flight paths at 3pm each day, so that people underneath get some respite from the flight path above them for part of the day.  Suspend alternation and you cancel that respite.” 

Ends.

Notes

Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Labour Assembly Member and is the Assembly’s Labour Group Environment spokesperson.  

BAA are keen to increase flight numbers at Heathrow, but requests for a third runway and the introduction of mixed-mode flying patterns have been turned down by the Government 

Runway Alternation

This is the current practice where planes, when they land over West London, switch runways at 3pm. This gives the people in many parts of West London a half day’s break from the noise. 

Mixed-Mode

At present, when the landing planes switch runways at 3pm, so do those taking off. It means that planes land and take off from separate runways. If runway alternation is abolished, planes would be landing and taking off from the same runway (at least for part of the day). That is called mixed mode.  

Mixed mode flight operations were precluded under the Cranford Agreement, which stood from 1952 until 2009.  

Murad represents the London Assembly on the Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee (HACC) 

Heathrow Airport Consultative Committee is an advisory body constituted by Heathrow Airport Limited in respect of Heathrow Airport in accordance with Section 35 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 

Presentation given to HACC on 4^th August 2010 about the planned maintenance works: 

In June 2010 the Assembly passed a motion unanimously opposing mixed mode at Heathrow: 

“This Assembly welcomes the government’s decision to refuse a third runway at Heathrow and the BAA announcement that it would not seek planning permission for a further runway at Heathrow. However, this Assembly would strongly oppose any increase in the number of flights from its airports in and around London by other means, such as mixed mode operations, more night flights or expansion at London’s airports 

The Assembly notes the long standing opposition of the Parties in the coalition government to any increase in flights, mixed mode operations, night flights or expansion at London’s airports, and calls on the Government to firmly and openly reject any increase in the number of flights at BAA’s London airports.” 

Further information please contact Alison Marcroft at 020 7983 4363

Murad Qureshi AM, questioned the Leader of Bromley Council about the disappearance of two trees from Hastings Lane in Penge East.  During a visit last month to the local area, Murad was approached by several residents who’d noticed that, following pedestrianisation works by the local council to an access way between Princes Road and Alexandra Road, known as Hardings Lane, only six trees were planted back and not the original eight. 

Murad wrote to the Leader of Bromley Council, Stephen Carr, congratulating him for the works to the local area, but expressed resident’s concerns that two of the trees had failed to return.  In his letter to the leader, Murad said “trees form a vital component of a healthier and greener environment” and asked “whether there are plans to increase the number of trees to the original eight which existed prior to the works” The Leader responded, stating that “eight trees were considered to be inappropriate for the area in question as there were too many of them, especially on London clay which leads to root damage” 

Murad is a London wide Labour Assembly Member and is the Assembly’s Labour Group Environment spokesperson.  He responded to Bromley’s reply stating that “it is vital that someone speaks up and questions decisions like the one made by Bromley, because of the potential impact on the environment.  Although, there are six ornamental trees there now, which will, eventually mature, residents clearly wanted to see all the trees returned.  I’d hope that in the future, councils consult residents more widely and make them aware of their plans and reasons for decisions like this which impact upon the quality of resident’s enjoyment of their local environment”  

Ends.

Notes

Murad Qureshi is a Londonwide Labour Assembly Member and is the Assembly’s Labour Group Environment spokesperson.

Details of the Assembly’s Environment Committee meeting can be found here: 

http://www.london.gov.uk/who-runs-london/the-london-assembly/committees/environment 

Further info please  Nikki Salih on 020 7983 4400 or Alison Marcroft at 020 7983 4363

Please see below the response to my written MQT;

Cricket investigation

Question No: 2743 / 2010

Murad Qureshi

How did the MET decide to investigate the cricket corruption cases surrounding the Pakistani cricket side when the cricket authorities themselves in the form of the ICC are doing there own investigations?

Answer from the Mayor

On 30^th August, officers from the Metropolitan Police met with representatives from the News of the World newspaper who provided evidence of a conspiracy to dishonestly influence a cricket Test match between England and Pakistan.

An assessment by senior officers and a senior crown prosecutor concluded that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that serious criminal activity had taken place. It was then deemed appropriate (and in the public interest) to mount an investigation.

 In order to preserve evidence, it was necessary to take immediate action. The investigation is being conducted by officers from the Economic and Specialist Crime Command, with close liaison with the CPS and the relevant cricket authorities.

I keenly registered with the Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme and have on previous blogs made known my first impressions of the scheme. Please see attached link of previous blog. But what’s beginning to cloud my experience of this scheme, is how l’ve been hit with additional costs of up to £87 since the 30th of July when l first registered.  The cost of registration itself was £48 for the whole year including the key, so to then be expected to fork out nearly double that, is a complete disincentive for the scheme.

It’s inconceivable that l could have incurred my first financial hit of £52, within just two weeks of the scheme launch, as all my trips have been less then half an hour long and quite frankly, I just haven’t done enough mileage. I have of course been back to TFL, and was told that l would get a refund, but these have yet to materialise on my credit card.  Also, just to add insult to injury, whilst chasing up my refund, l was swiftly informed that l’d be charged a further £35! Something is clearly amiss with the administration of the charges for the bike hire scheme.

So although it’s very handy having the bike option in my local area, it’s turning out to be a very expensive way of travelling around the neighbourhood, something most Londoners can do without in the present climate.

As ballots hit our door matts, l’m backing Ken as our Mayoral candidate for 2012.

My support for Ken was made clear early on in this campaign.  Not only are “Ken” and “London” synonymous, his vision for London is a London wide one, and not just targeted at either inner London or the suburbs.  Also, support for Ken is broadly based across all of London Labour politics.  He is supported by all the various party leadership candidate backers in London and by many Councillors and Trade Unionists of varying shades of red.

This vision and breadth of support offered by Ken will formulate the type of coalition that will, not only give us the unity of purpose to win back the Mayoralty in 2012, but also, a major platform on which Labour can build its return to national government.

During this last bank holiday weekend, l didn’t bother going to Lords to watch the England Vs Pakistan test match despite having member tickets. The allegations, which came so soon after the collapse of the Pakistani first innings, made me wonder what an earth is happening to their cricket!  The depth of damage to this wonderful game cannot be understated, particularly because of the speed in which it has become major global news.  I’d heard the newspaper vendor next door to Grace Gates had such a run on the News of the World, (not the normal read of MCC members), that he had to call for further supplies.

It’s often been said Pakistan’s inherent love and passion for the game has often kept it together, even at the most testing and toughest times, reflecting its national importance.  However, coming so soon after the recent tragic floods and its ongoing battles against terrorism, this is yet another blow to Pakistani pride which will no doubt impact even further upon the nation’s psyche.   If the allegations are founded, well frankly, this nation deserved better from its national team, so I’m not surprised by the very heart felt and emotional responses of disappointment which we’ve heard from Pakistanis, both in the UK and in Pakistan towards the team.   In my view, these allegations cut deeper than the, not so long ago, Alex Higgins story of match fixing, for the simple reason that it’s not just about one individual, its about a team and an entire nation’s pride which has been trampled on.

I’ve got a ticket for the one day international at Lords between England & Pakistan on the 20th of September, but unless we see dramatic changes, and swift and decisive action by the Pakistani Cricket Board, I’m unlikely to go.  I feel great pity to have to say this, because the last time l watched them play at Lords, they’d beaten Sri Lanka in the Twenty20 World Cup final last year, illustrating well the best of Pakistani cricket.

I, probably like many millions of other fans, will never be able to watch a no-ball in international cricket again, without wondering whether it was deliberate or not.  How very disappointing.  But whilst such events cost reputations, it does not cost lives in the same way that a flood does, so let’s get our perspective right on these things.