The Government faced a wave of protest after approving £9billion Heathrow expansion plans last week but there were muted celebrations in Carshalton.

Residents expressed relief as Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon dropped proposals for “mixed mode” operations while giving the go-ahead to a third runway.

A new flight path would have been created directly over Carshalton to accommodate mixed mode, under which runways are used for both take-offs and landings.

Ministers previously backed the scheme as a way of easing crowded skies and allowing an additional 60,000 aircraft to use Heathrow.

Councillor Paul Scully, who represents Carshalton Central on Sutton Council, welcomed the concession from Mr Hoon.

He said: “I’m glad that local Carshalton residents will not be directly beneath the roaring regular din of jumbo jets, as was feared. But we should not have been faced with this possibility in the first place.

“How can anyone take this Labour Government at its word when it breaks it promises to limit flight movements through ‘mixed mode’ operations, and fails to consult affected residents properly?

“It’s a shambles. My thoughts go to residents in the areas that will suffer increased noise.”

Ministers have promised to ensure the expanded airport meets European noise and carbon-emission regulations. They are also considering building high-speed railway links to central London and the north.

But Sean Brennan, the leader of Sutton Council, said: “It’s not good enough for ministers to say a bigger Heathrow would be good for the economy and simply ignore the environmental costs.

“It's time for an independent study which would compare the impact of airport growth with investment in a UK-wide high speed rail network. Then we could see the real consequences for jobs.”

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