Residents' Views On Airport Expansion

More than half the residents in the local communities around Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted say they support a new runway at the airport nearest to them, according to a new MORI survey.

The survey -- commissioned by BAA -- shows 69% of the local community around Heathrow recognise the importance of airport expansion in the South East; similarly, 65% of the local community around Gatwick and 57% around Stansted also recognise its importance.

In addition 52% of Heathrow's local community, 59% of Gatwick's and 57% of Stansted's supported the construction of one new runway at their local airport.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 3,005 residents (aged 18+) split evenly between Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted airports. Interviews were conducted by telephone between 1-29 October 2003.

Topline Results

These results are based on:

• Gatwick 1,004 respondents
• Heathrow 1,001 respondents
• Stansted 1,000 respondents
• The base is all unless otherwise stated.
• An asterisk (*) denotes a value of less than one half of one percent, but not zero.
• Where percentages do not sum to 100%, this may be due to computer rounding, the exclusion of 'don't know' categories, or multiple responses.
• Data is weighted to the relevant profile of each community area.
• Fieldwork dates: October 2003 (exact dates to be confirmed for each airport)

Top Of Mind Concerns/Issues

Q1 Thinking about living in this area generally, what is the one biggest concern to you?

Q2 For each of the following issues, can you tell me whether you consider it to be a serious problem in your area, a moderately serious problem, not much of a problem or not a problem at all. First of all, how great a problem, if at all, do you consider ... to be in your area ?

Heathrow Only

Q3 You mentioned that noise is a serious / moderately serious problem in your area. What kind of noise is that?

Base: 444

General Feelings Towards The Airport

Q4 I'd now like to focus the questions more on [local] airport. Thinking about the airport generally, would you say that you were favourable or unfavourable towards it ? Is that very or fairly (un)favourable?

Q5 Overall, what advantages, if any, do you think the airport has brought to local people in this area? What else?

Q6 What disadvantages, if any, do you think the airport has brought to local people in this area? What else?

Stansted Only

Q7 How often do you actually use Stansted airport ... a) to fly in and out of ? b) to meet/drop off other people ? c) for any other purposes?

Q8 What one or two things could BAA [airport] do to help improve the quality of life in your local area, if anything? Is there anything else?

Heathrow Only

Q9 BAA Heathrow invests in a number of projects to support the local community. What community issues do you think Heathrow should be tackling as a priority?

Planning Consultation

Q10 How much do you feel you know about [local] airport's plans to grow and develop over the next 8 years (Gatwick) 10 years (Stansted) -- do you feel you know a lot, a fair amount, just a little, have you heard about them but know nothing or have never heard anything about such plans?

0.5 minutes

Q11 What do you believe the development at [local airport] will involve?

Q12a Where do you generally learn about airport projects, plans or operations? Q12b And what would be your one preferred method by which [local] airport should keep you informed?

Q13 If you had an issue or question about airport projects, plans or operations, who would you contact first?

Q14 And, overall, how well informed do you feel [local] airport keeps you about its activities? Is that ...

Gatwick Only

Q15a Which, if any, of the following local newspapers do you read on a weekly basis?

Q15b And which, if any, of the following local radio stations do you listen to on a daily basis?

Q16 Are you aware of any cases of Gatwick Airport helping the community or society in any way?

Q17a What do you recall them doing? Q17b And which, if any, of the following do you recall them doing?

Q18 Which areas do you think it is most important for Gatwick Airport to support?

Q19 Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Is that strongly agree / disagree or tend to agree / disagree? a) BAA [airport] is trustworthy in its dealings with the local community b) BAA [airport] tends to makes decisions without involving the local community c) BAA [airport] is responsive to the concerns of the community in which it operates d) Local businesses benefit from BAA [airport's] economic success e) BAA [airport] makes a greater contribution to local education and training than other companies f) BAA [airport] makes a significant investment in community projects Heathrow Only: g) BAA Heathrow invests in public transport to reduce congestion and air pollution h) BAA Heathrow works hard to address its environmental impacts

Increasing Airport Capacity

Within the next ten years the main airports in the South East will be full. To be able to meet the demand for flying then new runways will need to be built.

Q20 How important or unimportant do you think it is that airport capacity in South-East England is expanded over the next few years? Is that very important, fairly important, not very important, not at all important?

The Government is due to publish a policy by the end of this year which will say whether or not new runways should be built and where they should be built. The Government has said that it will make sure it balances the economic, social and environmental factors involved in building new runways.

Heathrow Only

Q21 At Heathrow the Government is considering an additional runway that will be shorter than the existing ones. It will be used for short haul flights only e.g. flights to Europe using smaller planes. Would you support or oppose an additional shorter runway? Is that strongly or tend to support / oppose?