Latest News

4th June 2009

EURO ELECTIONS: LABOUR STANDS ALONE IN SUPPORT OF THIRD RUNWAY AT HEATHROW

Survey of candidates shows all other parties opposed

The Labour Party has become isolated in its support for a third runway at Heathrow. In a survey of candidates standing in the European Elections on June 4th, only Labour candidates refused to condemn the proposals to build a new runway. The campaign group HACAN wrote to all the leading candidates standing in the both the London and South East constituencies to ask their views on Heathrow expansion. No Labour candidate responded but the representatives of all the other political parties said they were opposed to the plans for a third runway.

Department for Transport Spies on Heathrow Critics

25th May 2009

The Daily Mail (25/5/09) revealed that the Department for Transport has spied on potentially tens of thousands of its critics ans passed the data on to the Police. For the full story

Read the HACAN press release.

The letter is signed by

Ian Cheshire, Chief Executive, Kingfisher

Russell Chambers, Adviser, Credit Suisse

Jon Moulton, Founder, Alchemy Partners

Charles Dunstone, Chief Executive, Carphone Warehouse

David Levin, Chief Executive, United Business Media

Dominic Murphy, Partner, KKR

Justin King, Chief Executive, J Sainsbury

Sir Roy Gardner, Chairman, Compass Group

Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive, BSkyB

James Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive, News Corporation

Howard Leigh, Managing Director Cavendish Corporate Finance

Martin Armstrong

Lord Young of Graffham, former President of the Institute of Directors

Leading Business Figures Oppose 3rd Runway

4th May 2009

In a letter to the Times (4/5/09) leading business figures have come out against a third runway at Heathrow.

They say that “the business case for a third runway simply does not stack up.” And add “to say that all those from the business community support the third runway is wrong.”

Read the full letter - Business can do without a third runway

And may commission their own study (Daily Telegraph, 25/5/09)

Read the HACAN press release

Legal Challenge Launched against Government's Decision to Back Heathrow Third Runway

14th April 2009

A coalition representing millions of people today launched a legal challenge against the Government over its decision in January to give BAA permission to draw up detailed plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Backing the challenge are HACAN NoTRAG, 7 local authorities in West London (Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond upon Thames, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead) and Greenpeace, WWF-UK, CPRE and RSPB.

The key points of the challenge will be:

If the courts allow the challenge to proceed, it will go to a full court hearing at the end of this year or early next year.

Activists pledge to help Heathrow residents defend their homes

30th March 2009

Environmental activists from across the UK “adopted” Heathrow residents to support them in their fight against a third runway and prepare them to defend their homes in the event of BAA being given permission to build the runway. The activists are being brought together by Plane Stupid. Thirty residents have initially asked to be adopted. Many more are expected to join as the scheme spreads over the coming months. Residents were adopted by affinity groups from as far away as Scotland and Cornwall. Some of the country’s most experienced environmental activists will be involved.

For more details click on press release.

Former Labour Home Secretary Comes Out Against New Runways

20th March 2009

Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary and still a leading force within the Labour Party, has come out against runway expansion. Writing in Guardian (20/3/09) he says: “We must escape the straitjacket of past policy dilemmas. It is no good building more runways just as air passenger numbers are falling.” In his article Clarke argues that, unless Labour adapts its policies to the changing world, including the challenge faced by climate change, it will lose the next General Election.

For more details click on press release

Allegations of Collusion between Peter Mandelson and BAA PR firm over Third Runway

2nd March 2009

Revelations about the close relationship between the Trade Secretary Peter Mandelson and Roland Rudd, the man who heads up Finsbury Ltd, the PR firm which represents BAA, have raised further questions about the part BAA played in persuading the Government to give the green light to a third runway at Heathrow. It emerged that Mr Rudd or his company met with ministers at least five times in ten days in the run-up to Labour's unpopular decision to go ahead with plans for a third runway, and once a few months earlier.

For more details click on to press release

Government Majority Slashed by Two Thirds on Heathrow

29th January 2009

Biggest rebellion on an opposition motion since Labour came to power in 1997

At the end of the debate in the House of Commons yesterday on Heathrow expansion the Government’s majority was slashed by two-thirds. It scraped home by a mere 19 votes. If 8 Democratic Unionists had voted with the opposition parties instead of the Government, Labour’s majority would have been down to one. As it was, this was the biggest rebellion on an opposition motion since Labour came to power in 1997. Two Labour MPs, Andy Slaughter and Virendra Sharma, resigned from their junior ministerial posts in opposition to the Government’s plans for a 3rd runway.

For more details click on press release

An Overwhelming NO to Heathrow Expansion

16th January 2009

The public overwhelmingly said No to Heathrow expansion during the Government consultation held last year. Of the nearly 70,000 responses to the consultation held only a little over 8,000 wanted any form of expansion. Just 11% of people. Noise and air pollution were the biggest concerns, with nearly half the people responding expressing worries about these issues.

Read the full details click on press release