Elmbridge councillors have said they are against the Heathrow expansion due to health concerns for the people of the borough.

836 people in Elmbridge responded to the council’s survey on the Heathrow expansion and many said they had serious concerns about how the construction would damage borough.

Councillor Stuart Selleck said: “The cabinet cannot support the current proposals for the expansion of Heathrow Airport. It has yet to be convinced that the environmental impact of noise and air pollution has been sufficiently addressed.”

The council said it needed to create a separate body to voice its concerns about pollution fears in the borough.

Cllr Selleck said: “We need to ensure on behalf of our residents that we have do have teeth when it comes to challenging these organisations when it comes to airport expansion.”

Chris Sadler, councillor for Walton Central, said: “Having used the airport a lot, I recognise that it is a massive benefit to the economy in general.

"There is a balance between the business side and the environmental side.

“I have a sense that the airport will go ahead without sufficient protection for the health of people of west London and ourselves.

“We ought to be very careful about expanding an airport at the cost of the health of the people in the locality. The balance has got to be the health first then the growth, not growth at any cost.”

Roy Green, councillor for Hersham Village, said: “There are a lot of people in this borough, not just in northern parts, who are concerned about the noise of the aircraft.

“We are also concerned about the amount of traffic that coming through the borough on a daily basis making its way to the airport. Those who don’t get stuck on the M25 come down through these local roads.”