LONDON Assembly member Caroline Russell has condemned the Government’s decision to select Heathrow Airport as the preferred choice for expansion.

The Green Party member has renewed her appeal to the Mayor of London to back policies that would make better use of existing air and international rail capacity.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling made the announcement earlier today saying it will bolster the UK's economy.

But Ms Russell has cited dangerous levels of air pollution and is calling on the government to consider the 10million annual unused seats on the Eurostar.

She said: “The decision to choose Heathrow as the preferred option, depending on the final vote next year, has offered temporary relief for the people living under the new flight paths but prolonged their anguish as they wait another twelve months to find out their fate.

“Imagine a motorbike zooming outside your front door from morning to night – this will be the new reality for West Londoners who will be blighted by more air pollution and intrusive noise because of this miserable decision.

“This is a two-pronged problem for west Londoners, as well as contending with noisy flights their local roads and public transport will be clogged with increased traffic, worsening their daily journeys and exacerbating air pollution.

“There’s no way expansion should even be on the table when air pollution in Heathrow already exceeds legal limits. This is a bad decision that will accelerate climate change and makes a mockery of the Government’s announcement to ratify the Paris Agreement."

She added: "I am calling on the Mayor to influence the Government to make sure alternatives to yet more expansion are explored; annually there are around 10 million seats of unused capacity on the Eurostar and a frequent flyer levy could help use existing runways more efficiently.

“The Mayor should, for example, convince the Government to renegotiate the current Eurotunnel fee structure that means both trains and passengers pay arbitrary fees and makes international train travel so expensive."

“Transport for London (TfL) estimate that £18 billion of investment will be needed to upgrade the transport infrastructure around an expanded Heathrow with just £1 billion coming from Heathrow.

“The Mayor must explain how TfL's finances will cope with the additional pressure if this does happen. He should also set out how he will ensure the clean air savings his ULEZ might bring can be safeguarded against emissions from Heathrow expansion.”