NEW papers revealing that congestion charging is being considered at Heathrow Airport have been released by the Department for Transport (DfT).

If the proposals go ahead it will mean drivers entering a fixed area around the airport will have to pay. Charging plans are being considered to reduced traffic pollution around the airport and ministers hope it will encourage more people to use public transport.

The news comes as senior industry figures say traffic reduction is being blocked because the Government is losing out on road taxes.

The claim, made in national newspapers at the weekend, suggested public transport was losing out and industry groups have called for a rethink.

Colin Eastman, transport adviser at Coventry Council, told The Sunday Times: ‘There are many public transport schemes in the pipeline which are being delayed because the extra cost of taking into account road tax losses makes them less attractive.’