Allegation of bias in bid to halt Heathrow runway

CAMPAIGNERS have launched a legal challenge against the approval of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

As councils close to the airport in west London prepare to take the UK government to court, Teddington Action Group (Tag) has announced it will also ask judges to block a decision that will lead to hundreds of thousands more flights a year, with increased air and noise pollution.

Tag is questioning the legality of ministers accepting the recommendation of the Airports Commission (AC) to expand Heathrow.

The group has sent a “letter of claim” to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling suggesting a number of reasons why permission for the new runway is flawed.

The document contains a key allegation of apparent bias against Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the AC, stemming from his remunerated roles at GIC Private Ltd, one of Heathrow’s owners.

Tag claims Sir Howard did not disclose his roles with GIC in the AC’s register of interests. The group says it will press ahead with legal action unless the Government withdraws its third runway decision and commissions a new report by a body with an independent chairman.

Tag spokesman Paul McGuinness said: “It seems breathtaking that a process to adjudicate on Heathrow’s future could have been chaired by someone who, at the time of his appointment, was actually employed by one of Heathrow’s owners and a company that was a cheerleader for its expansion.

“Most reasonable people will think these roles should have disqualified Sir Howard from taking any part in the Airports Commission.”