Everyone will pay for airport

Gordon Brown's decision to give the go-ahead to the third runway at Heathrow not only leaves Labour's green credentials in tatters, it also leaves the British taxpayer footing the bill for the biggest expansion of aviation in a generation.

Taxpayers are supporting the aviation industry to the tune of an estimated £13 billion a year in subsidies and hidden costs.

And many ordinary people who are making genuine efforts to cut their carbon will justifiably be wondering why their government allows such an environmentally destructive industry to avoid paying tax on aviation fuel or VAT. The Heathrow decision will cost us all.

Huw Peach

Green Party

Shrewsbury