BAA have broken their traditional silence on expansion strategy and are calling for three new runways to be built in the South East over the next 30 years.

The airport operator is being criticised for the mother of all u-turns' by anti-runway protesters, who say that BAA is going back on earlier promises not to expand Heathrow or Gatwick any further.

In 1999, BAA told local pressure groups that a third runway at Heathrow should be ruled out forever'.

BAA's dismissal of Cliffe in Kent as a suitable site for a new airport will be seen as the nail in the coffin for that proposal, which they claim would require too many billions in subsidies to be economically viable.

Both local MPs as well as a range of pressure groups have spoken out furiously against BAA, with Friends of the Earth dismissing as a sick joke' the claim that expansion demands are "responsible and based on the government's own principles for sustainable development".

The MP for Richmond Park, Dr Jenny Tonge has labelled the demands outrageous'. She said: "I simply do not accept the need for more expansion at any of the three London airports and most particularly not at Heathrow, where a third runway would cause quite unacceptable environmental damage.

"If we must have more airport capacity, which I dispute, it should most certainly be in the Thames estuary. I agree that Cliffe was not a suitable site because of the dangers from and to local bird life but to dismiss the whole idea on grounds of cost alone is thoroughly irresponsible."

Her Twickenham colleague, Dr Vincent Cable criticised the appalling cynicism' of BAA. He said: "During the T5 enquiry, BAA were quite adamant that a new runway was unnecessary and that their demand for a new terminal, Terminal Five, would meet passenger demand. Either their forecasting is grossly incompetent or they simply manipulated their analysis to meet tactical requirements."

The opposition to expansion draws together all political sides and Tory-led Richmond Council claim to have been fighting the expansion of the airport since they were elected last May.

Cllr Tony Arbour, leader of the council and GLA member for London South West, claims to have been instrumental in persuading the London Assembly to back him in opposing a third runway at Heathrow. He said: "Residents can be certain that this council will put up the strongest possible fight in leading the opposition to this proposal."

Mike Clasper, BAA's chief executive designate, insists that Britain needs airport expansion for the economy.

A protest march has been planned for the weekend of June 7th.