HEATHROW CONSULTATION 'ATROCIOUS' SAY PLAIN ENGLISH CAMPAIGN

2.21.43pm GMT Wed 16th Jan 2008

The Plain English Campaign has called for the Government's Heathrow consultation document to be withdrawn and redrafted.

The campaign spoke out after receiving the document from Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, whose constituents are affected by the expansion plans.

Chrissie Maher, founding director of the campaign has described the document as 'atrocious'.

"No ordinary person with an interest in the plans to expand Heathrow could be expected to read and understand this."

Susan Kramer MP commented:

"This report is a damning indictment of the Government's flawed consultation on Heathrow expansion."

"This incomprehensible, jargonistic document is yet another example of the contempt with which local people are held by the Government."

"Many people have already contacted me about how complicated the consultation document is, and many more are no doubt being put off filling out the form."

"The Government should withdraw the consultation, and come up with a document that ordinary people can understand, and that addresses the real issues at stake."

The Plain English Campaign found a number of problems with the document, including:

• Jargon specific to particular professions, such as 'net present value terms' and 'mixed mode operations'.

• An unclear introduction in Section A of the document.

• Section B makes use of terms which are not familiar to most people.

• Section D uses technical terminology such as 'operation of runway rotation'.