CONSERVATIVE councillors in West Berkshire were “wrong” to support the illegal decision to expand Heathrow airport, opposition councillors have claimed.

The Court of Appeal ruled on February 27 that the government’s decision to build a third runway was unlawful, because it failed to take into account the Paris agreement.

Countries across the world agreed in Paris in 2015 to keep the global temperature rising this century to well below two degrees above pre-industrial levels.

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West Berkshire Council voted in September last year to support the expansion of Heathrow, in response to the airport’s public consultation. But opposition councillors have welcomed the court ruling and said Tory councillors were wrong to support the third runway.

Councillor Carolyne Culver (Green, Ridegway) said: “This is fantastic news. Congratulations to Friends of the Earth.

“The Conservative leadership of the council were wrong to pass a motion in support of Heathrow expansion, especially when the council had declared a climate emergency.”

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Cllr Adrian Abbs (Lib Dem, Wash Common) said: “It’s great to see but I don’t think this will be the end of it. However, it’s great news they’re not going to ignore the law.

“The government is going to have to pay attention to what they commited to with the climate declaration. It moves it from a fluff paper exercise to actual reality.”

Cllr Steve Ardagh-Walter (Con, Thatcham Colthrop & Crookham), lead for environment, said: "This council has supported the Heathrow expansion based on the significant benefits this would bring to the economy and residents of West Berkshire. 

"At the same time, we are actively pursuing our environment strategy, and recognise the expansion must be balanced with progress towards carbon neutrality.

"We look forward to seeing how this issue progresses over the coming months."

The vote to support in September was despite the council declaring a climate emergency in July, and pledging to get the district to carbon neutral by 2030.

Conservative councillors argued that the third runway would help exporting businesses locally, technology like noise abatement has improved, and air quality in West Berkshire would not be affected.

But opposition councillors mostly voted against supporting the runway. 

Liberal Democrats argued that while it was good for families to be able to go on holiday and young people to go travelling, most flights are taken by wealthy businessman who fly several times a year. 

Green councillors questioned claims that Heathrow could be carbon neutral — despite the massive amounts of carbon emitted by air travel — and said there was little support nationally for the expansion.