THE visit by anti-airport expansion campaigners to Strasbourg to petition the European Union has ended with an encouraging promise by its Environment Commissioner.

Members of the 2M Group, which was formed by the local councils opposed to a third runway at Heathrow Airport, traveled to France yesterday (Wednesday).

They were there in an attempt to block the Government's plan to ask the EU to delay its ruling that all major European cities should meet strict air quality targets by 2010.

Leading the trip was Hillingdon Council leader Councillor Ray Puddifoot (Con) who met with EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in the company of London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford.

Speaking after the meeting she said: "I was very encouraged by Commissioner Dimas' grasp of the situation and his commitment to ensuring that London's elected representatives, both MEPs and London council leaders, would be consulted in any assessment of a UK bid to 'stretch' the limits."

The aim of the meeting was to seek an assurance that the European Commission will hold the UK to its obligation to comply with EU air quality laws and in particular the capping of nitrogen dioxide emissions that applies from 2010.

The UK government however is expected to seek a five-year postponement of the deadline, which protesters say is designed purely to push through the approval for a third runway.

Baroness Ludford added: "This is not just an issue for the environment but an issue of health and wellbeing for LondonÕs residents. Improvement in air quality due to restraint on Heathrow would also contribute to reducing the 1,000 premature deaths in London annually from respiratory disease.

"Heathrow is surrounded by dense residential development, schools and other facilities. EU pollution controls - ones the UK signed up to - cannot just be swept aside. I am confident that Commissioner Dimas will take very seriously his watchdog role."