MORE than 300,000 people will be newly affected by noise if Heathrow builds a new runway, according to claims by Gatwick Airport.

A leaflet, entitled ‘It’s time to make yourself heard’, asks people around Heathrow to sign in support of Gatwick’s case for a new runway as far fewer people there would be affected by noise and disruption.

A total of 16 local authorities would be newly-affected by Heathrow’s proposed flight paths, including Hillingdon and Ealing.

The leaflet adds that, unlike Heathrow, Gatwick has never breached EU and UK annual air-quality limits and, even with a second runway, would still be able to operate within legal limits.

Alastair McDermid, Airports Commission Director for Gatwick, said: “We would encourage all interested residents to respond to the public consultation into airport expansion. People can also sign up to support Gatwick’s case to build a new runway.”

However, Sarah Clayton, of AirportWatch.org.uk, suggests Gatwick is merely trying to increase its value with a new runway in preparation for plans to sell the airport after 2019.

She said: “If Heathrow got a new runway, Gatwick would probably lose quite a lot of business and money. They are therefore desperate to stop Heathrow getting a runway!

“That is a dirty trick. Gatwick knows it has very little support locally, from people or from councils, for its runway.”

Plans for a third Heathrow runway will include the need to flatten the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth.

Jane Taylor, of Harmondsworth and Sipson Residents’ Association, said: “We do not support any of the options being considered by The Davies Commission because.

"All would have a devastating impact on those living in the vicinity of the proposed runways and their flightpaths.”

Those wishing to respond to the Airports Commission’s consultation or sign up to support Gatwick can do so by visiting www.gatwickobviously.com

The Airports Commission’s consultation closes on February 3.