Our local council and MP have both hit back against the latest supreme court ruling which will allow Heathrow to apply for permission to build a third runway.

Check out the full story on the new ruling HERE

Munira Wilson, our local Liberal Democrat MP, called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose constituency would be affected by expansion to step in.

She said: "The Supreme Court's decision on Heathrow is extremely disappointing and terrible news for our planet. Expansion completely undermines the UK's climate commitments and would be a disaster for tackling the climate emergency.

"The Government categorically must not allow Heathrow to go ahead with its plans. How can the Government claim to be seriously committed to achieving net-zero by approving expansion of the UK's single biggest source of carbon emissions in the year it is hosting the UN Climate Conference?

"The news will also be a huge blow to the local residents in Twickenham, Teddington, St Margarets, the Hamptons and Whitton, who will have to deal with the increased levels of air pollution and noise. Expansion will harm the health and wellbeing of people across South West and West London.

"Boris Johnson famously promised to lie down in front of the bulldozers to stop a third runway being built. He can spare himself the trouble by firmly ruling out a third runway at Heathrow now. If the Prime Minister is serious about achieving net-zero, he must cancel this expansion."

The Leader of Richmond Council, Gareth Roberts (Liberal Democrat for Hampton) added:

"Covid has changed everything. Even Heathrow's chief executive has admitted that a new runway would not be needed for years due to the pandemic.

"The Government must now urgently review where future capacity is most needed – but this must be based on its commitments to legally-binding emissions targets and a UK-wide approach that properly reflects regional priorities.

"The Council's priority is to protect the environment for its residents and achieve measurable and lasting improvements in their quality of life.

"This means a permanent end to night flights and the adoption of tougher measures to limit noise impacts. This should include rejecting the practice of 'route concentration' as a means of squeezing in more flights over densely populated areas. All this does is both increase noise and emissions.

"As local councils we want the industry to get back on its feet. This doesn't mean a return to the days of uncontrolled expansion. Those days are gone. Heathrow, like the rest of the sector, has to work within the context of legally binding emissions targets and heightened public awareness of environmental impacts."

It may take at least a year for Heathrow to apply for planning permission again - but it is clear that this debate is not going away.