The Airports Commission has re-opened its consultation process to consider the affects of air pollution if Heathrow or Gatwick were given the green light for expansion.

The consultation, which opened on May 8, the day after the general election, wants feedback on new evidence about the air quality assessment of the three expansion options shortlisted by the commission after a Supreme Court ruling which said Britain needs to do more to tackle air pollution after it failed to meet EU limits.

The commission has already held a four-month consultation on proposals to expand either Heathrow or Gatwick, with more than 70,000 people responding.

But the public can now review additional detailed evidence that has been collected on air quality around the two London airports to aide the commission further.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, cabinet member for the environment, said Richmond Council had made it clear from the start that further expansion at Heathrow "cannot and must not go ahead".

She added: "One of the key arguments against expanding the airport is the detrimental environmental impact it will have on our borough - including the quality of the air that we breathe.

"The government has a duty to ensure that we all breathe clean and safe air.

"Heathrow already breaches the legal air quality limits and expansion will only make this worse."

Earlier this month, Heathrow announced a 10-point air quality blueprint and said it was discussing with the Mayor of London how the low emissions zones could be extended to the M25 and to replace buses and coaches serving the airport with hybrid or alternative vehicles.

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow, said: "Expanding Heathrow will deliver what the nation needs and what politicians want - an opportunity to win the race for jobs and growth by connecting the entire country to the world’s fastest growing destinations.

"It’s the only decision that will create up to 180,000 new jobs and £211bn of economic growth, shared across Britain."

But Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick, said the area around Heathrow currently breached legal air quality limits and "defies common sense" that a third runway in the solution to the problem.

He added: "Air quality has been a showstopper for Heathrow before and it is now clear that it will be again.

"In contrast, Gatwick has never breached legal air quality limits and its location means it can guarantee that it never will."

The commission is expected to publish its report this summer and the air quality consultation is open until noon on May 29.

To give your views, email air.quality@airports.gsi.gov.uk or visit gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commission.