The call comes just days after the government’s Airports Commission announced it wouldn’t include the project – which is backed by Mayor Boris Johnson – on the final shortlist of options being presented to Ministers.
Following the announcement, the Mayor refused to endorse expansion either at Heathrow or Gatwick and vowed to continue making the case for the estuary scheme.
Val Shawcross, Labour’s London Assembly transport spokesperson, has written to transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy asking him not to “sanction any further public spending in support of proposals for a Thames Estuary airport.”
She also asked Sir Peter “to commit to returning any unspent funding from the £5.2m allocation to TfL’s general budget so it can be spent on tangible schemes that matter to Londoners, such as the tube upgrade, and not on fantasy projects that clearly have no future.”
In a statement she added: “I have today called on Peter Hendy to put a stop to this madness and confirm that the Mayor will not be allowed to throw good taxpayer money after bad on this folly.
“It would be totally inappropriate for more public money to be wasted on developing an idea which has neither support nor any realistic chance of implementation.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Mayor, said: “One million Londoners would be affected by the excessive levels of noise generated by a bigger Heathrow and the Mayor remains steadfast to the commitment he made to protect Londoners from the excess noise, pollution and congestion that would be caused by a third runway.
“He will continue to ensure Londoners interests are represented in this critical debate by providing comprehensive responses to Government or Airports Commission related consultations and calls for evidence, while fighting for the right hub solution to London’s air connectivity needs.”
