PERHAPS I may ask a question of your correspondent Mr Douglas in Edinburgh (Letters, January 22). What right does someone who lives 400 miles away from Heathrow have offering an opinion in support of the Government's decision to permit the construction of a third runway and sixth terminal?

Is he aware that in the Government's guidelines they have also decided to do away with the Cranford agreement, which for over 50 years has protected the residents of Cranford from the horrendous noise of easterly take-offs from the northside runway?

But then it was only a gentleman's agreement, and regrettably the present government have very few of those in their ranks. Even the Transport Secretary has the nickname of 'buff'.

Anyone who watched the moment when a certain Mr Hoon made the announcement about Heathrow would have seen there were very few in the chamber for such an important announcement. So where were those MPs who were against the third runway?

As for Mr Douglas's derogatory comments about the 'people' of Sipson, as he called them, receiving considerable compensation to relocate, has he thought about just where these 'people' would relocate to. Does he know he is referring to some 700 houses, an old church and graveyard and the possible loss of a medieval tithe bar? There are some 2,000 residents, or more, in Sipson.

Also, what about the jobs of those so affected and the years of misery for many other residents while the work goes on? I'm sure I wasn't the only one to notice Mr Douglas's letter was also published in the Daily Mail, on January21, verbatim. It may be interesting to note that rumours of a fourth runway and seventh terminal have begun to surface. No smoke without fire, as they say. Mr Douglas should mind his own business.

BRIAN WELLSTED Westwick Gardens, Cranford.