- More people support Heathrow expansion than oppose it
- 58% of residents feel positively about the airport
- 10,006 residents from 10 constituencies around Heathrow were polled
Polling released today reveals that for the first time more than 50% of residents in Heathrow’s surrounding constituencies support the airport’s expansion plans. The research undertaken by independent polling company Populus also reveals that the residents rate additional jobs and apprenticeships as the top reasons for their support.
10,006 residents from Spelthorne, Richmond Park, Brentford and Isleworth, Feltham and Heston, Windsor, Ealing Central and Acton, Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Slough, Hayes and Harlington and Twickenham answered questions about their feelings towards Heathrow’s plans and the airport more generally. The results show that 58% of residents feel positive about the airport while 35% have a neutral feeling with only 7% saying they have a negative feeling towards the airport.
22% of local residents said they would be more likely to vote for a Parliamentary candidate if they support expansion and 17% said they are likely to vote for them if they oppose expansion.
The research is the largest undertaken locally since the Airports Commission was formed and highlights a strong level of local support in the majority of the constituencies surveyed. This further demonstrates the importance of Heathrow to local residents, those mostly affected by the airport and who have traditionally been perceived as opposing the plans.
John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow CEO said:
‘There is a growing consensus that expanding Heathrow is vital for the British economy. It will create 180,000 jobs up and down the country and keep Britain at the heart of the global economy.
Now we can see that it is not only the right solution, it is also deliverable. With the majority of local residents backing expansion, the time has come to be ambitious and get on with it.’
Notes to editors
Populus interviewed at least 1,000 adult residents (18+) in ten constituencies local to Heathrow Airport by telephone between 19 November and 21 December 2014. In total, 10,006 residents were interviewed. Results were weighted to be demographically representative of all adults in each constituency, and were also weighted by past vote to be politically representative of all adults.
A full breakdown of the latest polling can be found at
http://www.populus.co.uk/Poll/Heathrow-Poll-2/
Previous polling undertaken- full breakdown of areas surveyed and results available at:
http://www.populus.co.uk/Poll/3395/
http://www.populus.co.uk/Poll/Heathrow-Local-Borough-Poll/
http://www.populus.co.uk/Poll/Heathrow-Poll/
http://www.populus.co.uk/Poll/Heathrow-Local-Area-Polling/
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