Heathrow runway 'has won secret go-ahead'

A third runway at Heathrow has already received secret government approval, it was claimed today.

The decision, likely to be announced in the run-up to Christmas, wrecks Mayor Boris Johnson's ambitious scheme for a new 24-hour airport in the Thames estuary.

Ministers have let it be known they want to go ahead with the Heathrow expansion - even though tens of thousands of objections are still being sifted through following a public consultation.

A decision on Heathrow had been expected this summer but was delayed by the strength of opposition to the proposal from an alliance of environment campaigners and west London residents. Labour MPs in marginal London seats fear a backlash if Heathrow gets the goahead before the next election.

Mr Johnson announced at the weekend he had commissioned a feasibility study into the development of a new airport, most likely built on an artificial island off Sheppey in Kent.

But The Times reported today transport sources who said the Government was determined "to make the third runway happen". Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has previously expressed her support for Heathrow's expansion and received backing from Gordon Brown and Business Secretary John Hutton.

The third runway, which could cost anywhere between £7billion and £13billion, would boost Heathrow capacity from 480,000 flights a year to 702,000.

The Department of Transport is poring over 70,000 responses to its public consultation, most opposed to expansion. The consultation was branded flawed by opponents, who said questionnaires were not sent to thousands of residents who would be affected. Today's news will be greeted with horror by anti-Heathrow campaigners and is likely to lead to an escalation in direct action.

Activists have recruited residents from some of west London's wealthiest boroughs to be trained in protest techniques.

They are prepared to risk arrest in nonviolent "attacks" on the airport. John Stewart, chairman of protest group HACAN ClearSkies, said his supporters felt they were being ignored, adding: "People feel they have nothing to lose."

The Government's 2003 White Paper supported an expansion of airport capacity. Business chiefs say the third runway would provide a £1billion boost to the economy.

THE FLIGHTPATH TO EXPANSION

December 2003: then Transport Secretary Alistair Darling publishes a White Paper on the future of air travel including a key proposal for a third runway at Heathrow to be built by if it meets environmental targets.

December 2006: the Department for Transport confirms it backs expansion after releasing a progress report.

August 2007: Climate Camp for Action stages a week-long protest in a field next to Heathrow, attracting 2,000 campaigners opposed to expansion.

November 2007: the Government launches a public consultation. It receives 70,000 responses, most of them opposed to the scheme.

July 2008: Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly delays decision on expansion until the end of the year.