News of a third runway at Heathrow being given the thumbs up has been welcomed by opponents to plans to build an airport off the Sheppey coast.

This week transport secretary Geoff Hoon gave the go-ahead to the runway and a sixth terminal at the London airport.

It could spell the end to Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s plan to build an international airport in the Thames Estuary off the coast of Sheerness.

Mr Johnson announced the proposal in September and it was met with horror by Islanders and the political establishment who described it as “barmy” and “the most stupid idea going”.

Concerns were raised about the impact on the environment, noise, and the amount of traffic it would bring to the Island.

The news this week was described by Mr Johnson as “a devastating blow for millions of Londoners whose lives are now set to be blighted by massive increases in air pollution and noise”.

A feasibility study into whether it would be possible to build a 24-hour airport in the Thames Estuary, which would see the eventual closure of Heathrow, was set up by the mayor.

His spokesman said this study was underway and there were no plans to stop because as yet nothing had been “set in stone”.

The news was welcomed by Island MP Derek Wyatt (Lab) who said: “Islanders cannot breathe enough sighs of relief that the airport will not now go ahead.”

The Island’s parliamentary candidate Gordon Henderson (Con) said: “It really makes no difference as an airport off the coast is never going to happen.”

For full story see next week’s Times Guardian