Wandsworth Council has called on the Government to set up a new regulator for the aviation industry to deal with concerns over the expansion of Heathrow.

It joined six other local authorities in calling for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to be abolished in favour of an independent watchdog.

Hounslow, Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth and Windsor and Maidenhead councils were responding to a Transport Department consultation on the future of the CAA.

Wandsworth leader Edward Lister, speaking on behalf of the councils, said: “This was meant to be a root and branch review but all we’re being offered is the same cosy arrangement between the DfT, CAA and the industry that has existed for years.

“Our experience as local authorities over the last 20 years concerned with the environmental impact of Heathrow’s operations is that no one agency is holding either the DfT or the aviation industry to account.

“With the Government pushing for expansion at Heathrow we needed a strong CAA to tell ministers that the forecast on noises and emissions simply did not add up.

“The answer now is to set up a truly independent body which can act as a champion for consumer and environmental interests alongside its traditional safety and licensing roles.”

The councils fear that under current government plans the CAA could be given the key role in deciding whether the environmental conditions for a third runway had been met.

The authorities are concerned that, unlike the Environment Agency which challenged the government’s NO2 forecasts, the CAA accepted the noise case too uncritically.

The councils also say that decisions on future airspace changes affecting millions of people are too important to be left to such an unaccountable body.

The Government’s current proposals offer no right of appeal on CAA decisions.

The DfT’s consultation on proposals to update the regulatory framework for aviation closes on March 11.

A CAA spokesman said: "The CAA is the UK's independent, specialist aviation regulator - created primarily to ensure aviation in the UK is safe.

"UK aviation has an excellent safety record, and the CAA is recognised internationally as a world leading aviation regulator.

"The CAA is currently constrained by its statutory duties and powers which significantly limit its ability to comment on, or intervene, on environmental issues.

"The DfT consultation proposes giving the CAA such a duty, which will increase the scope for it to take action in regard to the environment."