London councils back Gatwick expansion claim

Gatwick has released new aerial images to celebrate it's busiest ever month Credit: Jeffrey Milstein

A cross-party group of eleven councils across the capital have urged Theresa May to back Gatwick's bid to build London's new runway.

Gatwick has just reported its busiest ever month in its 80-year history, which they say strengthens the case for a second runway.

In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the eleven council bosses say they have witness 20 years of 'failed attempts to increase capacity at Heathrow' and claims that 'London is uniting behind Gatwick'.

The council leaders that have signed the letter are:

  • Croydon Council Leader Tony Newman

  • Hammersmith & Fulham Council Leader Stephen Cowan

  • Hillingdon Council Leader Ray Puddifoot

  • Kensington & Chelsea Council Leader Nicholas Paget-Brown

  • Kingston Council Leader Kevin Davis

  • Lambeth Council Leader Lib Peck

  • Lewisham Council Mayor Sir Steve Bullock

  • Merton Council Leader Stephen Alambritis

  • Richmond Council Leader Lord Nicholas True

  • Southwark Council Leader Peter John

  • Wandsworth Council Leader Ravi Govindia

The councils represent around 2.8 million Londoners and include five Conservative-controlled and six Labour controlled authorities.

New figures for Gatwick Airport show that July was its busiest ever month up 23% on the same period last year.

Gatwick released a series of aerial photographs of the airport to celebrate the achievement.

Gatwick has released new aerial images to celebrate it's busiest ever month Credit: Jeffrey Milstein