DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott's team has failed to reassure Eastleigh councillors that the government has no secret plans to double the size of Southampton International Airport.

Eastleigh Council leader Keith House fired off a letter to the Department of the Environment, Transport and Regions after reports that a second run-way at the airstrip could be under consideration.

But under-secretary of state Chris Mullin has replied to the council indicating that no comment would be made by the government until next summer.

Speaking at a full meeting of Eastleigh Council, Mr House reminded members he had sought urgent reassurance that the government would accept the recommendation from an earlier government study which said Southampton International could not accommodate a second runway. But he added: "I have to report to members that no such reassurance has been given. Quite the reverse is the case."

He said the reply from Mr Mullin stated that the government was "not going to make any comment on specific options under consideration."

The letter added that conclusions of the current study of airport issues in the South and South East would be reported next summer, and be followed by public consultation.

But Mr House added: "Summer 2001 is, of course, after the likely date of the next general election. Together with the long-awaited results of the Heathrow Terminal 5 inquiry, this means that public scrutiny of the government's airports policy will not now be possible until after the election.

"I have to tell members that I am not at all satisfied with the answer which has been given by the minister, and am asking David Chidgey MP as the Member of Parliament for the town to see if he is able to get clearer answers from the government.

"But I have to say that, on the basis of the reply we have been given, I expect that he, too, will be stonewalled."

Mr House said it was regretable because it would have been good to reassure the community that while the council wanted to see the airport thrive, it did not want to see it acting as a surrogate Gatwick or Heathrow.