OUTRAGED residents gathered in Harmondsworth today to speak out against the government decision to build a third runway at Heathrow. 

The plans would include the destruction of three villages in Hillingdon if they go ahead. 

Local campaign groups have fought the proposal for years and today met at Five Bells, a 400-year-old Harmondsworth pub.  

The new runway would engulf half of the village and would lead to the removal of businesses, a primary school and more than 750 homes.

Retired resident Saif Mohammed said: “The air quality is already very bad and we have soot on the windows and doors that we have to wipe every day.

“Heathrow is already too big for the area, I can’t imagine the amount of traffic we’re going to have.”

Mr Mohammed, 68, has lived in the area for almost 30 years and the Heathrow plans would force him to have to relocate.

He said: “I enjoy living here, we have a great community and I have a very good relationship with my neighbours.”

The government has promised those who would have to leave the area an additional 25% on top of the market value for their home as compensation, but Mr Mohammed would not be entitled to that due to his house being council owned.

“I feel helpless,” he added. “How am I going to move? Where will I get the money from? But they are corporate companies and they have the power. Money talks and they will force this decision on people regardless.

“I’m sure there are other solutions. I don’t want to have to move. I’m nearly 70 years old and it will be very stressful.”

Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport said the move is a momentous step for the UK economy and some Harmondsworth residents are happy with the decision.

“It’s a no-brainer,” said Peter O’Reilly, a HGV driver.

“I’m getting 25% above market value of my house pre-blight – they’re coming round to value my house next week.

“This community is dead anyway. No families have moved in for the last 15 years, it’s only landlords that have moved in.”

A Heathrow worker from Longford also agrees with the approval.

He said: “There’s so much air traffic at the moment that it won’t make a difference.

“If they don’t hurry up they might as well think about using the twelfth century barn as the terminal as then we’ll be back in the feudal system.

“My main concern is that they make a decision and get on with it.”