Transport secretary Alistair Darling has announced plans for a consultation on two new runways at Gatwick as part of a wider review of airport capacity.

The move would increase passenger levels at the Sussex airport from 32 million a year to 115 million.

Forum Response: Freedom to Fly

Baroness Dean, chair of Freedom to Fly, said: "It is imperative that ministers now push ahead for increased airport capacity without delay.

"We cannot allow London's position as a leading financial capital, and the prospect of thousands of jobs to be put in jeopardy by further legal wrangling."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

A spokesman for the IoD told ePolitix.com: "The environmental impact of airport expansion obviously cannot be ignored, however, the economic benefits have to take precedence. If the UK, and particularly London and the South East, is to remain competitive, thereby creating jobs and wealth for society as a whole, then air traffic capacity has to increase."

Forum Response: The Woodland Trust

Ed Pomfret, spokesman for the Woodland Trust, told ePolitix.com: "Expansion of Gatwick Airport will devastate vitally important habitats that are in the middle of the United Kingdom's largest concentration of ancient woodland. Trees have been growing continuously in these woods for at least 400 years, and often for much, much longer. Ancient woods are our richest habitat for wildlife and an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. They contain more rare and threatened species than any other UK habitat.

"The proposal for two new runways at Gatwick would damage and destroy over 80 hectares (200 acres) of ancient woodland, It would also involve loss of two sites owned by the Woodland Trust and put another Trust site at risk.

"It is not just at Gatwick that ancient woodland is under threat from airport expansion. The Woodland Trust revealed in its report "Flight Path to Destruction" that proposals for airport expansion across the country in areas such as Stansted and Rugby could cause loss or damage to an additional 990 hectares (2,400 acres) of the habitat.

"One of the greatest contributors to climate change by 2050 is predicted to be the aviation industry. It's outrageous that this expansion will be at the expense of our natural heritage. Apart from the direct destruction of our environment, climate change is the greatest threat to the survival of ancient woods. The Woodland Trust will continue to fight all of the airport proposals that would cause damage to ancient woodland sites as we believe that it is time a line was drawn under this reckless ruination of nature."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Richard Burge, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "These proposals for new airport development will have serious repercussions on local communities and environments. It is vital that those who may be affected get involved and ensure that their opinions are expressed so that when the final decisions are made, all views have been heard".

Forum Response: British Airways

A spokesman for BA told ePolitix.com: "The UK needs a thriving major international airport that supports a network of inter-continental, European and domestic flights. This can be achieved more readily, and cost effectively, by providing an extra runway at Heathrow thereby enhancing all that has been achieved so far.

"The runway could be accommodated within the noise levels set down as a condition of the Terminal Five decision and without the need for us to operate any additional night flights. If Heathrow cannot grow, we will see its international route network reduced, UK regional services further squeezed out and business going to other European airports that have been able to expand and prosper.

"There are those who will oppose Heathrow development on environmental grounds and it is essential that their views are heard as part of this consultation process. But we must not lose sight of the severe economic consequences for Britain if we fail to develop Heathrow. Once all the economic and environmental arguments have been assessed, we believe the answer to the needs of UK plc will be an additional runway at Heathrow."