Hounslow Council has called on the government to reassure its residents that Heathrow airport is safe.

The call coincides with the publication of a new survey revealing that 90% of people living close to Heathrow are concerned that expanding the airport will pose an increase risk to safety.

The research was undertaken before the incident last week when an international passenger plane crash-landed short of Heathrow’s southern runway.

Cllr Barbara Reid, the council’s lead member for aviation said: “Heathrow has had a good safety record in the past but a growing number of people are voicing their concerns about safety.

“The airport already has the worst congested airspace in the EU, crossing one of the most densely populated areas in Europe.

“Now the government is planning to double Heathrow’s capacity in little more than a decade.

“This research demonstrates that the majority of Heathrow’s neighbours believe that expansion will pose an increased risk to safety.”

The government is currently undertaking a 14-week public consultation into its plans to double Heathrow’s capacity.

According to Cllr Reid, the council’s technical experts are also concerned at the lack of information on safety within the consultation document.

She said: “The government has produced a 240-page consultation document but there is very little detail on safety. In fact, it has undertaken no apparent risk assessments on the new and untried air traffic control procedures that it is proposing to introduce.”

In light of the new findings, Cllr Reid said she would be writing to the Transport Secretary, Ruth Kelly, to ask for reassurance that the government’s plans do not pose an increased risk to safety in Hounslow.

She will also be writing to the chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, Sir Roy McNulty and the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, who has responsibility for emergency planning.

The council published the interim findings of its borough-wide survey to coincide with a public meeting on Heathrow expansion.

Around 3,000 residents have already registered their opposition to the government’s expansion plans and several hundred are expected to turn out at the meeting to be held at the Civic Centre in Hounlsow at 7.30pm on Tuesday 22 January.