The Advertising Standards Agency has upheld a complaint over misleading adverts by Heathrow Airport, which ran with the slogan “those around us, are behind us.”

The reliability of the polls, commissioned by the airport itself, have also come under question as other polls have suggested that most residents oppose the Third Runway.

In an IPSOS Mori poll of residents of Windsor and Maidenhead, released in January, 55% of those who expressed an opinion said they were opposed to a new runway at Heathrow. Only 20% of residents were strongly in favour of the Third Runway, compared to 38% who were strongly opposed.

Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor, commented:

“Heathrow is a business like any other and wants to make the best profits it can for itself and its consortium of international shareholders.

“But these false adverts only underline the weakness of the arguments for expansion. In Windsor and Maidenhead, far more residents oppose than support Heathrow’s Third Runway. I hope this behaviour is not a sign of things to come as Heathrow seeks to solidify its near-monopolistic position.

“Its damaging pollution, noise impact and astronomical costs to the public are all huge black marks against Heathrow’s proposals.

“Heathrow is a sticking plaster solution to a decades-old problem. The Government should be under no illusions about the strongly-held opposition to the undeliverable plan for a Third Runway.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.       The IPSOS MORI poll of Windsor and Maidenhead residents can be found here: https://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3515/Royal-Borough-of-Windsor-and-Maidenhead-Aviation-Survey.aspx

 

2.       A link to the full story can be found here: http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/news/1364160/misleading-heathrow-adverts-banned-suggesting-locals-support-expansion/

 

3.       The Coalition Against Heathrow Expansion, of which Adam Afriyie is a founding member have their website here: http://no3rdrunway.co.uk/