Buckinghamshire “must be heard” on the Heathrow expansion plans, a top politician has declared.

Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan is urging her constituents to have their say in the government’s consultation on the Heathrow expansion, which opened earlier this month.

The controversial plans will see the airport get a new north-west runway and a sixth terminal.

The expansion was given the green light in October last year, with transport secretary Chris Grayling calling the decision “truly momentous”.

A consultation has been launched to get the public’s views and will run until May 25, before the final decision is put to MPs for a vote in the winter.

Mrs Gillan said: “Buckinghamshire’s close proximity to Heathrow means that almost 2,000 residents work at the airport, and has helped see 700 companies base their headquarters here.

“A third runway at Heathrow will not only create new jobs, it will support our exporters, boost international trade, and help the UK thrive as an outward-looking trading nation by adding 40 new long-haul destinations.

“I encourage local residents to look at these proposals and add their views to the consultation before 25 May.

“Constituents in Chesham and Amersham benefit from good links to Heathrow, and, in addition, many of them work either at the airport or in businesses based nearby.”

Buckinghamshire County Council came out in support of the expansion at the time of approval, with leader Martin Tett saying it would send a strong signal that the country is “open for business with the world” following Brexit.

But Geoff Bennett, an Iver Heath resident and councillor, who lives near the airport, branded this “illogical”, saying residents in the south of the county already suffered with noise and air pollution from Heathrow, as well as traffic problems.

To respond to the consultation, go to www.gov.uk/government/consultations/heathrow-expansion-draft-airports-national-policy-statement.