Children's welfare in the spotlight as council continues to fight Heathrow expansion.

Concerns over the quality of life and educational welfare of Royal Borough children have prompted a further robust council motion against the proposed expansion of Heathrow – and nightflights in particular.

Following the motion proposed by Cllr Liam Maxwell, ward member for Eton and Castle, members this week unanimously agreed to a three-pronged "attack" on government plans to increase capacity at Heathrow and voted to:

• lobby BAA and the government to ensure that residents' and particularly children's quality of life is not further lessened by more aircraft noise

• oppose any measure taken by BAA which would impact on the educational opportunities of young people in the Royal Borough.

• re-affirm its commitment to fight expansion by working with other members of the 2M* group to oppose night flights into and from Heathrow.

Cllr Maxwell said: "With current government proposals to create another runway there are very strong concerns that night flights will increase over the borough and the research clearly shows that this affects our children's educational attainment.

"For example, children affected by chronic aircraft noise have a reading comprehension level nine months behind their peers in unaffected areas.  My particular concern is for large jets arriving very early in the morning – often much earlier than they are scheduled to because of tailwinds and poor planning by the airline. 

"I think that scheduling arrivals to be more sympathetic to local residents – having large jets arrive later so that any early ones will not disturb children's sleep – is a sensible route to follow.  This won't affect the economic viability of the airport but it will give our children a fair chance."