Maidenhead & Windsor

Two public meetings in Windsor and Maidenhead have been set up by the Royal Borough to give residents the chance to have their say about the government's proposal for a third runway at Heathrow airport.

The meetings will be held at:

* Maidenhead – Monday February 11 (7.30 – 10pm) Desborough Suite, Town Hall
* Windsor – Wednesday February 13 (7.30 – 10pm) Windsor Boys' School.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways, transport and environment, said the council was taking a lead to help local people understand the complex expansion plans.

He said: "The Department for Transport (DfT) has put out a consultation document that has nothing to do with getting public views. We believe it is a statement of intent to build the third runway, which will inevitably lead to Terminal 6. They are also proposing changes to the use of the existing runways that will mean even more misery for people in our borough whose quality of life is already shattered by aircraft noise and who are at the end of their tether."

Cabinet will discuss the council's response to the DfT when it meets on Thursday February 21 and in the meantime is keen to hear what local people think about the proposed expansion.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Rayner said: "The consultation is extremely difficult to comprehend – the questions are hard to understand and the choice of answers are somewhat confused. These meetings will help residents understand the issues of the Heathrow expansion plan in plain, simple English."

Cllr David Burbage, Windsor and Maidenhead council leader, said: "There has been so much disquiet about the complexity of this consultation that we believe our residents must be given a voice. The council is going through the consultation documents with a fine-tooth comb and will be drawing up a robust response to the DfT. it is essential that residents' views are strongly reflected in that response and that's why we are organising two public meetings.

"I encourage everyone in our community, whatever their views about the expansion at Heathrow, to come to the meetings and have their say. We are also inviting our local MPs to join us so they can take residents' views on board at Westminster."

At both meetings there will be a presentation on the DfT proposals by Terry Gould, the council's head of sustainability and public protection.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead