Challenge to Heathrow runway plan

The council will argue that the government's decision was irrational

A legal appeal has begun by councils opposed to the decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow.

At the High Court the 2M group, which represents 23 local authorities, applied for a judicial review of the government's approval of the expansion.

The group is arguing the decision was irrational and that the consultation process was not lawful.

A Department for Transport spokesman has said it stands by its decision to expand the west London airport.

If permission for a review is granted, there is not expected to be a hearing until the early part of 2010.

The local authorities said they will argue that Transport Minister Geoff Hoon arrived at his decision on a potentially half-capacity third runway, which was different from the fully-operational runway in the consultation.

Just about everyone other than Geoff Hoon thinks the government has got this wrong Ray Puddifoot Hillingdon Council leader

They will also claim that the decision was irrational in a number of areas, including the economic case, noise and air quality, and that Mr Hoon failed to provide adequate reasons for his decision.

The case has received backing from London Mayor Boris Johnson, who favours an alternative Thames estuary airport site, and has also been supported by green groups such as Greenpeace and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Speaking on behalf of 2M, Hillingdon Council leader Ray Puddifoot said: "The number of organisations backing this challenge is unprecedented.

"It shows that just about everyone other than Geoff Hoon thinks the government has got this wrong.

The challenge group includes 23 councils

"For the local authorities the real concern is that the government has not proved that a third runway can be operated without breaching air pollution limits, making noise worse or creating intolerable congestion on local roads and public transport."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We set out our reasons for supporting a third runway at Heathrow when we announced our decisions on expansion on January 15.

"We stand by those decisions."