Campaigners prepare to deliver the ballot papers to homes on the Hoo Peninsula

by Alan McGuinness

The Thames Estuary airport ballot could be extended to Rochester and Strood.

Conservative activists have funded a poll for residents living on the Hoo Peninsula, and have been burning the shoe leather delivering poll cards to homes in recent weeks.

The move is being led by MP Mark Reckless, whose constituency covers the peninsula.

The area has a population of more than 20,000 and includes villages like Cliffe and Grain, which have both been suggested as possible sites for an airport.

The government is due to make a decision on the idea after the next election in two years’ time.

Lord Foster's plan for a four-runway airport at Grain would be the world's biggest

So far more than 10,000 ballot papers have been delivered, of which around 2,000 have been returned.

Around 95% of respondents have said they don’t want an airport.

Now the party is weighing up whether to ask thousands more people in the Towns whether or not they want an airport in the area.

Peninsula councillor Chris Irvine (Con), who also works in the office of Mr Reckless, said: "We’ve had a minor delay with the weather but we should be finishing this week. We’ve had a huge response."

"We’re considering whether or not to extend it to the rest of the constituency, but we’d have to look at the costs."

The printing costs for the ballot were £3,000 and the full cost will be known once people have sent back the ballots in the free post envelopes.

The eventual total could be up to £10,000.

The ballot has been criticised by the Labour party, who have long campaigned for a referendum across Medway on the issue.

This would be held on a specific day, with voters going to polling stations to cast their vote.

The party claims this would send a strong message to the government that an airport is not wanted.

Opponents claim it would cost up to £250,000 – money the council doesn’t have.

In May, Richmond Council in west London is holding its own referendum to give residents the chance to express their views on a third runway at Heathrow.

The cost of this is £67,000, which Cllr Maple said is evidence that the sky high costs quoted by opponents aren’t true.