THE legitimacy of plans to expand Heathrow is in question after poll results showed Hillingdon residents are against the idea.

More than 81,000 people voted in the council ‘referendum’, which asked if a new runway should be built and if more flights should be allowed to and from the airport.

Two-thirds of voters replied with a ‘no’ to each question.

Hillingdon Council leader Ray Puddifoot said: “The council has always been clear about our opposition to expansion at Heathrow and this emphatic result shows that the majority of our residents agree with us.”

The poll was conducted by both Hillingdon and Richmond councils, and Richmond voters were 80% against a new runway.

Plans to drive a new runway through the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth were shelved in 2010 as part of the Tory-Liberal coalition agreements.

But voices have again been raised in opposition to the project since Justine Greening, considered to be against Heathrow expansion, was replaced as Transport Secretary in September.

The Prime Minister also established the Airports Commission to look at ways to expand Britain’s airport capacity, fuelling speculation he was seeking to backtrack on his agreement with the Lib-Dems.

Cllr Puddifoot said: “We were promised by David Cameron that there would be no third runway at Heathrow, as it was unsuitable for expansion and that an alternative solution had to be found.

"I believed him, and so did many of the residents of Hillingdon. The strength of this vote is an indication that they now expect him to be as good as his word."