Residents living near Heathrow Airport could be forced to wait until September to find out whether a third runway will go ahead.
The warning from a senior Cabinet minister comes after a wave of "deep disappointed" in December 2015 , at David Cameron's announcement to delay the decision on whether to build a third runway at Heathrow for another six months .
Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary, suggested that the Prime Minister's timetable was so tight, that he may not be able to oversee a decision before parliament breaks up for its summer recess.
He told the Evening Standard : “I’m very keen that we get an airport decision this year.
“It’s very tight. It may or may not be possible to get a decision before the House rises in July.
“What I’m certain is that you can’t take this decision when the House of Commons is not sitting.”
Tory MP hints at swift decision to back the runway
The announcement comes after 66 MPs submitted an early day motion to urge Prime Minister David Cameron and other ministers to make a decision on the south-east runway in July.
But according to the Standard, Tory MPs opposed to a third runway think the government is edging towards giving Heathrow a go-ahead within weeks.
One un-named MP said: “I get the feeling from talking to colleagues that there could be a swift decision to back Heathrow in July.
“The Prime Minister won’t be standing for re-election in 2020 so he no longer has to worry about the public reaction, and he won’t worry too much about what Sadiq Khan says on this issue.”
The Airports Commission recommended Heathrow expansion a year ago, naming Gatwick as second favourite and leaving the Cabinet to make the final decision.
After the EU referendum on June 23, the cabinet will turn their attention the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war as a 'priority issue'.
Gatwick promised to start construction on a second runway before the Prime Minister leaves office - if the airport is chosen.
