Twelve South East councils representing two million people have joined forces to fight "the continued, unlimited growth" of Heathrow Airport.
The cross-party 2M Group will fight Government plans that it says could lead to a 50% increase in flights from the world's busiest international airport.
With members from the London Boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth, the boroughs of Slough, Spelthorne and Windsor and Maidenhead and South Bucks District Council, the group said the Government had understated the environmental impact of Heathrow's planned expansion.
Councillor Mary Rose Gliksten, leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: "We formed this group to give a voice to the two million people affected by the Government's policy of uncontrolled expansion at Heathrow.
"We are not anti-Heathrow but we are concerned that the Government consistently understates the environmental impact of growth while cynically overplaying the benefits to the economy."
She added, "Over the coming months we can expect a succession of Government announcements that will each add to the numbers of flights using the airport.
"In time this could lead to a 50% increase in flight numbers which in turn can only mean more noise and worsening air quality."
A number of key announcements are expected in the early summer which would all add to capacity at Heathrow, including plans to end the practice of runway alternation which would allow aircraft to use both existing runways in parallel.
A BAA spokesperson said, "BAA welcomes a free and informed debate and looks forward to explaining the enormous economic contribution Heathrow makes towards the UK economy."
Source: 24Dash.com
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