New transport secretary, Geoff Hoon, is set to be lobbied by Kent CC to create a new airport for London. Just days after Mr Hoon confirmed he would allow more flights out of Stansted, Kent's leader, Cllr Paul Carter, called for the DfT and London mayor, Boris Johnson, to consider expanding Kent International Airport as an alternative to Heathrow. A decision on whether Heathrow will get a third runway is due by the end of the year but the issue has been mired by controversy. A group of London councils has united against the expansion plan, and Mr Johnson has given his support to a £40bn plan to build an airport in the Thames estuary. Cllr Carter told said the Kent airport – former RAF Manston – was a viable alternative, and was set argue his case with the mayor this week. He said: ‘Kent has an ideal location. It's affordable and deliverable. The mayor's plan is outrageous.' Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary, this week warned a Tory Government would overturn Heathrow expansion. ‘We will not consider ourselves bound by any decision taken by this Government. We will stop a third runway,' she said.