The British government is appealing a court ruling critical of night flights at London's Heathrow airport because taxpayers could face a bill of £2 billion sterling, reports today's Financial Times.
The paper claims it has seen confidential documents that show the British Treasury backed the Department for Transport, Local Government and Regions' decision to appeal because of the ruling's financial implications.
The European Court of Human Rights found in October the British government had violated the rights of residents near Heathrow, the world's busiest international airport.
The level of noise allowed by regulations on night flights breached the right to respect for private and family life. The eight residents who brought the action were each awarded £4,000 compensation.
The department has calculated between 100,000 and 500,000 other people living around Heathrow could claim compensation as a result of the court's ruling. This would result in a bill between £400 million and £2 billion, according to the FT.
The bill could be even bigger if residents near other airports took action.
It is unusual for the government to seek leave to appeal against judgments by the European court because it deals with the sensitive issue of human rights.