YOU are quite wrong to suggest that “nobody, apart from Britain’s rivals, can take pleasure in the chaos that marked terminal 5’s opening” (Heathrow is terminal, last week). Many living close to Heathrow, particularly those threatened with forcible eviction from their home to allow for the construction of a third runway, can and do take enormous pleasure from it because it reduces the risk of any further expansion.

Philip Sherwood
Harlington, Middlesex

A WORKING ALTERNATIVE: Your editorial is correct to question further expansion, but you do not explore the potential options. Last Sunday’s tragic accident at Farnborough, involving a small private jet, demonstrates the folly of airports within built-up areas. With or without expansion, Heathrow’s air traffic is a disaster waiting to happen.

Yet in Wiltshire, the government persists in plans to close RAF Lyneham, with runway capability to take the largest (and heaviest) military planes. Close to the M4 but well east of Bristol, Lyneham would only need the terminal facilities and a direct rail link to compete. So why give the space to Nick Raynsford MP (With Heathrow all at sea, put the airport in the estuary, Focus) to argue for a “new build” when you could create further southwest regeneration by developing Lyneham?

The Rev Andrew Francis
Swindon

FLIGHT FROM WINDSOR: Nice to see my MP, Adam Afriyie, speaking up on our behalf (Heathrow expansion will deafen the Queen, News). Like many MPs he doesn’t live in his constituency, but in Great College Street, just across the road from the Houses of Parliament.

The last time I saw him in Windsor he was driving around in a very large Chelsea chariot - clearly a man who cares about our environment.

Peter Hooper
Windsor, Berkshire

MOVING OUT OF TOWN: The airport at Bangkok was as equally badly geographically placed as Heathrow. Someone in the Thai airports authority recommended that the whole enterprise be moved. It was, some 60 miles east of Bangkok, in about two years.

Jonathan Fay
Warsash, Hampshire

SOUND BARRIER: When BA has finished double glazing Windsor Castle they can come and do my house in Chelsea.

Gillian Carrick
London SW10

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