Local Conservative asks is Adam Afriyie Representing Windsor?
A local Conservative voter has written to the Royal Borough Observer questioning whether Adam Afriyie is standing up for Windsor or instead acting in the interests of his party over the issue of Heathrow.
Writing in the letters page of the Royal Borough Observer the correspondent asks:
"Do we have an MP who represents the interests of Windsor residents or one who wishes to play with Windsor voters for party political advantage?"
The Conservative correspondent's complaint centres on the so called "Cranford Agreement" a set of rules on how aircraft land and take off from Heathrow's Northern Runway. In broad aspect the agreement calls for aircraft using the Northern Runway to take off over Windsor in the west so as to protect the areas of London to the East from the noise of Aircraft taking off, which is generally noisier than landing.
The alternative to the Cranford Agreement - "runway alternation", where aircraft would take off over West London part of the day and Windsor part of the day, could really reduce overall noise in Windsor, but increase noise in other Parliamentary constituencies.
The letter writer continued:
"I write this as Conservative voter. It seems to me that that our MP, secure in his safe seat, may feel that he can afford to disregard local voters in order not to alienate more marginal seats around the airport prior to a general election."
Sadly the Correspondent did not feel confident enough to have their name and address printed - presumably they have seen the unpleasant abuse given out in the letters pages to other correspondents by the Conservatives.