Heathrow third runway: Councils spent £350,000 on legal action By George Greenwood

BBC Freedom of Information researcher Published duration 13 April 2017

image copyright PA image caption The councils are concerned about the environmental impact of the third runway

Four councils under Heathrow Airport's flight path spent £350,000 on legal fees challenging the planned third runway, the BBC has learnt.

Hillingdon Council's leader said it would provide funding to challenge it for "however long it takes to win this battle".

Wandsworth, Richmond and Hillingdon councils spent £300,000 from their general funds on legal action.

Windsor and Maidenhead Council spent £50,000 from its development fund.

The details were obtained using Freedom of Information laws.

Council general funds are where money for most council services is drawn, with funds raised from council tax and central government grants.

The four councils failed in an attempt to challenge the decision to build the runway at the High Court in January.

Contingency budget

London Councils, the body that represents London local authorities, says that by 2020 there will be a budget gap of around £2bn in London local government, which council budgets will have to accommodate.

Hillingdon Council has set aside a contingency budget of £200,000 for possible future legal action against the third runway, while Wandsworth has budgeted £25,000.

The case against the runway brought by the councils was struck out by Mr Justice Cranston in January on the basis that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the claim, but further legal action against the runway may take place.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, questioned whether the councils were making the right spending decisions.

"Those are huge sums of taxpayers' money spent on legal fees which could have otherwise gone towards road maintenance or adult social care," he said.

"Given that Hillingdon residents have seen their council tax rise by over 45% in real terms over the last 20 years, the decision to allocate so much money for further action raises serious questions over the council's priorities.

"Many residents may well oppose the third runway, but they are free to form groups to launch legal action themselves."

'Wasting time'

Stan Woods, a resident of Longford, which will be demolished to make room for the third runway, feels there is little the councils can do to affect the outcome.

"I worked at Heathrow for 38 years, so can see the reason for expansion, but equally wish I could keep my home," he said.

"I guess the councils feel they are acting on behalf of their communities, but to be honest this decision will be taken higher up the political ladder."

Councillor Raymond Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council, said it was time the government stopped "wasting time and money" and turned its attention to finding a "workable alternative" to Heathrow.

"The government spent more than £3.8 million of taxpayers' money on the expansion of Heathrow Airport in the 18 months between July 2015 and December 2016, and this figure has risen dramatically over the last few months and will continue to do so," he said.

"We will continue provide both the funding and the integrity necessary to both defend and represent our residents for however long it takes to win this battle."