A COUNCIL leader has thrown his support behind Heathrow expansion.

Cllr James Swindlehurst met with the leader of the pro-expansion campaign group, Back Heathrow, to launch a new mobile billboard outlining support for the project and to reaffirm their partnership.

Cllr Swindlehurst said: “We will ensure local people see benefits in improved transport infrastructure, and work with Heathrow to make it easier, cheaper and greener to move around Slough. We will also continue to support the western rail link, which will shorten the journey from Slough to Heathrow to just seven minutes – which will make a huge difference in the lives of Slough residents.”

The executive director of Back Heathrow, Parmjit Dhanda said: “I’m proud to represent over 100,000 local people who want to see a bigger, better and more sustainable Heathrow. I’m delighted that Slough Council is backing the campaign.

“Residents understand how important Heathrow is for the local economy, not just for those who work directly at the airport, but also those who work in the surrounding area or in the supply chain. They want the Government to listen to them then get on and build this vital new runway.”

Opposition leader Cllr Wayne Strutton, said: “An element of Heathrow’s profits need to be put into a fund to help ease the costs to the local community and education. They need to take full responsibility. I’m not anti-Heathrow, as it is very important to the economy locally.”

A spokesman for the anti-Heathrow expansion campaign group, Slough and District Against Runway 3 (SADAR3), said: “Back Heathrow is not the grassroots group it claims to be. It is a company guaranteed by the airport, funded by it, and obliged by its memorandum and articles to do as it is told by Heathrow. I understand such fake groups are referred to as ‘astroturf groups’ for obvious reasons.

“Back Heathrow claims to have 100,000 supporters, but despite regular questioning it will not state where these supporters are, where they came from or even if they genuinely exist. On Twitter, Back Heathrow has around 2,000 followers, many of these being community groups against expansion and environment groups.”

Head of British Airway’s parent company, Willie Walsh,has said he has “zero” confidence that the build a third runway can be built on time and on budget.