I cannot see the point of expanding Heathrow - it is already a nightmare to get to. Although I live only about 85 miles away, it takes about 3 hours by car on a weekday, (in traffic jams on the M25) or 4 hours by public transport (with multiple changes lugging heavy suitcases).

Peter, Cambridge,

My long term solution is to build a new European airport hub near Calais by the sea. The cost would be shared between the UK, France and Belgium and the Eurostar would be the fast link to the three capitals providing considerable environmental, cost and transport advantages for travelers, not BAA.

peterfieldman, paris, france

It is physically possible to enable Heathrow to cope with more flights, but the congestion would be intolerable.
The only real answer to our SE Airports i9n England is to build a new island airport in the Thames Estuary to serve eastern destinations.

Roger Lascelles, London W14, England

It is physically possible to enable Heathrow to cope with more flights, but the congestion would be intolerable.The only long term answer is to build a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
Each of our then four airports could then serve destinations corresponding with its compass bearing.

Roger Lascelles, London W14, England

The Government needs to have a coordinated transport policy. A high speed rail line to the Midlands, the North and Scotland would not only cater for increased rail demand but would also mean that fewer internal flights would be required from Heathrow.

Michael Constable, London, England

"Does Britain want to be replaced by Holland or France as the major hub for flights from North America?
What would that do for tourism and industry?"

I am really fed up of this continual willy-waving "Nah,nah my airports bigger than yours". No more expansion at Heathrow!

Sarah, LOndon,

The WHO sets the limits for a good reason due to severe negative consequencies on people's health.
This govt. knows this and the fact it is hiding it's intention to therefore knowingly damage people's health to aid the profit of BAA is OBSCENE! Roll on voting them out! And what about CO2 Gordon?

grant, london,

Also let's not forget about the noise of airplanes. I live under the flight path of approaching planes to Budapest Airport, the noise is terrible. - I only hope that Peak Oil will make these airlines bankrupt soon.

Zoltan B., Budapest, Hungary

Airlines are being squeezed by high oil prices and the credit crunch. Some have already announced route cuts. In light of this, do we now really need a third runway at Heathrow?

Andrew Montgomery, Oxford, UK

"Does Britain want to be replaced by Holland or France as the major hub for flights from North America?"

If the citizens of Holland or France want the pollution, yes!

Mike, Brighton, England

This makes an absolute mockery of the Government's policy of punitive fuel taxation on the back of so called Green/environmental issues. Why on earth would we be persuaded to leave our cars at home so the rich can fly the world on the back of our taxes?

What a bunch of hypocrites they are.

Bev, Bucks, UK

It is time people from London had a say; not those from Canada or Scotland who could not care less what the effects will be on living. There was the same ecconomic argument for asbestos factories; don't get rid of them as they are good for the economy and jobs. Eventually truth and sence prevailed

N Warren, Twickenham,

Why not more public transport ? A rail link to the West !

Peter Minett, Swindon, UK

Don't worry we wont have enough petrol to get to the airport and they will have to cancel the extra flights!

Please don't mention the environment or global warming these subjects are for discussion only never to be implemented.

Ken, Orpington, Kent

Does Britain want to be replaced by Holland or France as the major hub for flights from North America?

What would that do for tourism and industry?

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

"Now they are trying to move the goalposts. " well, every other time (nhs, exams, crime, drugs, wmd....) they've done the same, so why not now?

Phil Barnes, preston, england

Let the free market decide upon the proposed extra growth at heathrow by offering some of the £5 billion benifits it would produce to the many householders living within the radius of eviromental havoc the airport produces. Reduced household rates and extensive free health insurance might do it !

Billy Tell, west london,

I'm happy to let the governement have this five year extension on pollution limits if they can also make me immune from the extra pollution for the same five years.

Richard, London,

'' Britain may apply for a further five years from 2010 for compliance with the NO2 limit values...”.

This is also a get-out for the large areas of the capital which are in breech of the limits thanks to nearly all public and commercial traffic being powered by NO2-emitting diesel engines.

J H Holloway, London,