Lord Foster's vision for a Thames estuary airport

by Alan McGuinness

Transport bosses say they hope a decision on whether to build a new airport in the Thames estuary WILL be made by next year.

It comes after a newspaper report suggested the government wants to push back the decision till at least 2015 to avoid a spat between the coallition parties.

But a spokesman for the Department for Transport said a consultation on the plans will go ahead later this month and it still hoped to have a preferred option by 2013.

A decision on a Thames Estuary airport could be delayed until after the next General Election in 2015, according to a national newspaper.

The Financial Times is reporting that the government wants to push back a decision on any new runways in the south east to avoid a confrontation with coalition partners the Liberal Democrats.

A decision on an idea which would change the face of Medway and much of Kent was originally due to be made by March 2013.

A consultation is still due to start this month, but the Treasury and Downing Street are pushing for a “lead time” of several years to be included, the paper claims.

The government is said to be warming to the idea of building a third runway at Heathrow, which would be good news for campaigners against an airport in the county.

If the report is correct, it means voters in Medway will go to the polls in 2015 not knowing whether an airport will be built on their doorstep.

Opponents of the idea, which include Medway’s three Conservative MPs, Medway Council and the RSPB, argue it would cost too much money and cause huge environmental damage.

Those in favour claim it will bring investment and jobs, much needed in the current financial climate.

Three sites have been proposed so far: Cliffe, Grain and two floating islands in the estuary dubbed “Boris Island” after London Mayor Boris Johnson, one of the key backers of the idea.

But a Department for Transport spokesman said: “There has been no change to the Department’s business plan target of adopting a sustainable framework for aviation by March 2013.

"A draft of this document will be published for consultation shortly.

"We will also soon be publishing a call for evidence, seeking people’s views on how best to maintain the UK’s aviation hub status.”