The Royal Borough joined four other councils today in formally notifying the Secretary of State for Transport that it was ready to seek a judicial review of the Government’s decision to support a third Heathrow runway.

Windsor and Maidenhead has teamed with Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham to launch the challenge.

They are challenging the Government on the grounds that it has ignored the threat to air quality from traffic, the potential strain on the transport network and the effect of potential noise.

Cllr Simon Dudley, leader of the Royal Borough, said: “We have repeated our concerns to Government about how a third runway at Heathrow would affect the daily lives of our residents and the millions who live in the airport’s shadow.

“We have no choice now but to hold Government to account in this way. If the Secretary of State does not agree the Airports National Policy Statement should be quashed then we will take this fight to the courtroom.”