THE Government has done what was expected of it by the aviation lobby, in deciding in favour of expansion at Heathrow.

No one can be in any doubt now about the Government's lack of concern for the health and well-being of people living in west London.

And Gordon Brown and Labour have also shown that any utterances they may have made about climate change are not serious: they are quite willing for major carbon-emitting industry to develop its capacity to pollute.

Local residents may feel they should now vote for opposition parties who have declared against expansion at Heathrow. This is a good idea, if residents feel they can trust the other parties to maintain their resolve once elected.

But the best way to oppose the third runway is to join up with those groups who have been protesting against airport expansion for many years - since before the mid-90s when BAA first began breaking its promises on expansion.

There will be plenty of opportunities for peaceful direct action in the coming years, and getting involved in that will be the best way of showing the Government what a mistake it has made over Heathrow.

JOHN FERRIS Biscoe Close, Heston.