Consultation over Heathrow ignores 500,000 residents

Residents are furious that they have not been given a say over the proposals, which would see an extra 220,000 planes a year flying over large areas of south and west London. Airport owner BAA wants to build a third runway and scrap restrictions which give those living under the flight path peace for half the day.

More than 200,000 consultation documents were sent out in November when the process was launched by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. But campaigners claim huge swathes of homes in Hammersmith, Shepherd's Bush, Chiswick, East Putney, Kensington, Holland Park and Southall were excluded because they fell outside the worst-affected areas.

Campaigners now believe the "flaws" in the consultation process are grounds for a legal challenge and have instructed lawyers to investigate taking the Government to judicial review within a fortnight. This could force ministers to begin the consultation process all over again and would seriously delay any expansion.

The decision comes just a week after ministers were forced to expand the consultation to the whole of Hammersmith and Fulham. Campaigners successfully challenged the Government's-narrow criteria for inclusion. Other boroughs are now expected to push for the same concessions.

John Stewart, chairman of protest group HACAN ClearSkies, said: "Around 250,000 to 500,000 people who will be affected by the plans didn't get a response form. Some of them will be getting a plane over their heads every 90 seconds. Their lives will be turned upside down and yet they have had no chance to express their views.

"When we put that to our lawyers they felt we had a pretty strong case."

Virtually none of the 400 residents at a public meeting in Turnham Green this month were sent a form.

Mike Russell, 54, a photographer from Chiswick, said: "It's a disgrace. The Government's first responsibility is to act on behalf of its citizens and this Government consistently acts on behalf of corporations."

The leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council, Stephen Greenhalgh, last week forced aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick to back down and include the whole borough in the consultation.

Mr Greenhalgh said: "They are the ones who will have to put up with extra noise, pollution, overcrowded trains and road congestion should these plans ever be implemented."

Ealing council is considering a similar appeal, arguing that the DfT's calculations "seriously underestimate" the borough's noise blight.

With a barely a month to go before the consultation is due to end on 27 February, campaigners now plan to fight to extend the deadline.

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said documents were widely available online and by phone.