Boris wants one. He really does. Lord Foster is the latest to design one. But time after time the proposals for an estuary airport in the Thames founder under the weight of reason, the massive costs and the unsustainable destruction of the coastal environment.

That it could be done is not in any doubt – the pell-mell loss of coastal wetlands world-wide is testament to the ‘if it can be built – it should be built’ approach to development.

The RSPB has stood against the damage that the estuary airport, in its many manifestations, will bring to the Thames – and that will continue.

Loping off chunks of the natural environment and lobbing them on the fire of the economy is too great a risk on this small crowded planet that we are turning into a pressure-cooker.

There are various polls running at the moment – please add your voice.

Here’s the local MP Mark Reckless

The Evening Standard

And the Daily Telegraph.

Follow me on twitter.