ok, it may be pedantic, and in the past certainly experience has shown that consultations are normally set up to ensure that plans go through rather than to actually see whether they should go through, but actually this announcement is for the long-expected "consultation" on a third runway, and is not yet a definite go-ahead.

many groups in the heathrow area will be holding counter-consultation meetings and presentations and there is time for considerable planning to stop the third runway. now is definitely the time to organise, but not to panic.

this will surely be the mother of all battles, but with climate change now recognised by even the mainstream as one of the biggest threats to humanity, heathrow will have an uphill struggle all the way. the fight against a third runway might just be winnable.

i dont think this idea will take off

This whole consultation is clearly a sham, but it's difficult to make any sense of any of it. Although it's a consultation, they're not actually consulting on whether there should be a third runway. For example, from the DfT FAQ

 http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/heathrowconsultation/furtherinformation/faqs

"Why are we not asking whether there should be a third runway?

The Air Transport White Paper stated the Government's support for the further development of Heathrow, including a third runway and additional terminal capacity subject to stringent local environmental limits being met. It also said that scope for making greater use of the two existing runways should be explored, subject to the same environmental limits. The consultation presents the outcome of our assessment of these options and invites views".

So it looks like - consultation notwithstanding - the government effectively given the go-ahead for a third runway.

If you don't like the fact they've fucked you over as always, keep an eye out for upcoming direct actions, and for god's sake make sure you do your bit.