NIGHT FLIGHTS: NO SURRENDER!

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jul 2003

Dr Jenny Tonge, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, has reacted with anger to the news that the Government has won its appeal against the European Court of Human Rights ruling against night-flights at Heathrow Airport.

The UK Government has managed to persuade the ECHR to alter its previous ruling upholding a ban on night flights.

Dr Tonge said: "I am desperately disappointed that the European Court of Human Rights has not stuck to its guns and defended residents from noise at night."

"But the fight will go on!" the MP added. "The Government must not think for a moment that it can get away with unlimited expansion of air transport. It is simply not sustainable and the damage both to the environment and to people's lives, is too great."

"Ministers must now be persuaded to minimise the damage, use their powers under EU law to reduce the noise and withdraw their proposals for a third runway at Heathrow which would just add insult to injury."