HILLINGDON COUNCIL FIRMLY OPPOSES LABOUR GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO BACK A THIRD RUNWAY AT HEATHROW

Attending the Hillingdon Business Awards last month was a true highlight for the Uxbridge Employment Agency team—not just for the celebration itself, but for an unexpected and heartwarming reminder of why we do what we do.

During the evening’s festivities, we were honoured and genuinely touched when the Mayor of Hillingdon shared that she had worked for us as a temporary employee back in the 1990s. Even more remarkably, she recalled how she had won our coveted "Temp of the Month" award—a moment that had arrived during a particularly challenging year for her. She spoke about how much it had meant to her at the time, but the biggest surprise? She still has the certificate proudly displayed on her wall today!

It was a powerful moment that reaffirmed a truth we’ve always known—temporary work is so much more than just a short-term stopgap. For many, it serves as a crucial stepping stone, offering experience, stability during transitions, or simply the confidence to take the next big step.

At Uxbridge Employment Agency, we’ve always believed that every placement matters. Our temps go on to achieve great things—even if public office isn’t the usual career path!

Following the recent announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, that the government is inviting proposals for expansion by the summer, the council reaffirms its intention to robustly fight any plans, just as it did with Heathrow Airport Limited’s previous proposals.

Any expansion of Heathrow would be to the huge detriment of the borough, with dire consequences for residents from increased noise and air pollution and new roads and infrastructure encroaching on or destroying homes and communities.

Expansion proposals at London City, Luton and Gatwick have all advanced with a combined increase in flights similar to a new airport. Expanding Heathrow on top of that would fill the skies over London, and beyond, and expose hundreds of thousands to harmful heath impacts and overwhelm an ageing public transport system.

The cost of services provided by the council to meet demand arising from the airport is already unfairly subsidised by Hillingdon residents and this would only worsen with a bigger airport.

Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council, said: “It’s hugely disappointing to see this destructive proposal back on the table once again and we will work with similarly minded local authorities and the Mayor of London to oppose these plans.

"The government’s desperate pursuit of economic growth through a third runway will disproportionately benefit Heathrow's owners and I am confident that we will be able to show that the proposed economic benefits to the country are a mirage.

“As a borough we have fought the spectre of these proposals for more than 25 years and we’ll continue fighting for as long as it takes to put our residents first.”

The centre’s origins lie in the vision of Dr. Paul Strickland OBE, a consultant radiotherapist at Mount Vernon Hospital. In the early 1980s, Dr. Strickland recognised the revolutionary potential of CT and MRI scanning.