Mixed reactions to Heathrow expansion plans

An artist's impression showing three runways at Heathrow Airport

Plans to expand Heathrow Airport have been met with mixed reaction from residents.

Heathrow revealed details of the £49b expansion and modernisation plan, which includes the creation of a third runway, addition of a new terminal, and diversion of the M25, which would require a new road tunnel under the airport.

Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, said expansion was "urgent".

Some residents of Datchet, Berkshire, which is underneath the flight path, welcomed the news, but others said they were worried about noise and congestion.

Chris Byrne said he thought the expansion was necessary

Chris Byrne acknowledged the works would be "extensive" but said the expansion was necessary.

"I fully understand and appreciate that change is really really inconvenient," he said.

"What's been announced today is just really a significant, major public infrastructure works that's going to go on for years and I'm sure the disruption's going to be extensive."

"[But] we rely on transport for the economy."

He said there were pros and cons to it.

"From my personal perspective of additional noise, if that were to be the case I'd be very unhappy about it, but we did choose to live here," he said.

Charmian Davies said she was worried congestion would be worse

But Charmian Davies said the noise was already a problem.

"When they're landing I get this whizzing noise... when I moved here I knew what the problem would be, but it is one after the other," she said.

"It's bearable at the moment but another runway... also, there's congestion.

"I don't know how people will even get to the airport.

"If you try and get there even in the middle of the night its busy, but imagine when there's another runway and more thousands of people in the area trying to get there - I just can't see the logic of it all."

Zena Coccaro said she did no want any more noise

Zena Coccaro said the noise was "bad enough as it is", adding she "didn't want any more".

"I don't think its a good idea, personally," she said.

"The congestion around here will be terrible... OK, it might give us more employment or whatever, but there's a lot of employment around the Slough area as it is, we're not short of employment round here."

Mengala Janakarajah and Parameswaren Blasubramenim were both in favour of the plans

But Mengala Janakarajah said the expansion was necessary.

"We travel a heck of a lot and we need to expand," she said.

"It's no point us saying 'yes, we'll have a vacation every year, a foreign vacation' and then we don't have the facilities to have the planes come in and out."

Parameswaren Blasubramenim agreed.

"I think we need a big airport," he said.

"It's always congested so I think it'll be good to have the airport"