Author: John Stewart

The speakers will include
Shadow Transport Secretary Alan Duncan and Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesman Tom Brake
(2). The rally, organised by HACAN ClearSkies in association with the campaign groups from
Stansted and Gatwick airports, comes just over a month after the Government’s consultation closed
into its plans for night flights at the three airports for the period 2006 — 2012 (3).

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, which represents residents under the Heathrow flight
path, said: “This rally sends the strongest message yet to government about the need to tackle the
hated night flights.”

The recent consultation on night flights proposed an extra 620 flights a year between 11.30pm and
6am at Heathrow by 2012 and a 41% increase in flights at Stansted. At Gatwick, where the
Government proposed to keep the number of flights much as they are at present, local people have
been enraged by the efforts of BAA and the airlines to secure an increase in flight numbers.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1). The rally will be held in the media room of Central Halls, Westminster, Storey’s Gate, SW1. It will run from
7.00pm — 8.30pm. Alan Duncan will address the rally shortly after 7.00pm. Other politicians will be slotted in as and
when they arrive.

(2). The full list of politicians who are expected to address the rally is:

Alan Duncan, Conservative Transport Spokesman
Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat Transport Spokesperson
Julian Brazier, Conservative Aviation Spokesman

MPs from the Heathrow area:
Adam Afriyie, Con, Windsor
Vincent Cable, Lib Dem, Twickenham
Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem, Hornsey and Wood Green
Justine Greening, Con, Putney
Greg Hands, Con, Hammersmith & Fulham
Kate Hoey, Lab, Vauxhall
Alan Keen, Lab, Feltham & Heston
Susan Kramer, Lib Dem, Richmond Park
Martin Linton, Lab, Battersea
John McDonnell, Lab, Hayes & Harlington
John Randall, Con, Uxbridge
Andrew Slaughter, Lab, Ealing, Acton & Shepherd’s Bush

MPs from the Stansted area:
Oliver Heald, Con, NE Herts
Mark Prisk, Con, Hertford & Stortford
Brooks Newmark, Con, Braintree

Peers:
Lord Patrick Jenkin

MPs from the Gatwick area:
Peter Ainsworth, Con, East Surrey
Crispin Blunt, Con, Reigate

From the Greater London Authority:
Baroness Sally Hamwee, Lib Dem, Chair GLA
Darren Johnson, Green, Chair GLA Environment Committee
Roger Evans, Con, Chair GLA Transport Committee
Richard Barnes, Con, member for Hillingdon & Ealing
Elizabeth Howell, Con, member for Wandsworth & Merton

From the local authorities:
Representatives from the London boroughs of Hounslow, Wandsworth and Richmond will address the meeting. Also
from the district councils in the Stansted area: Uttlesford and Aintree.

(3). Every 5/6 years the Government draws up an agreement with the airlines about the number of flights permitted at
the countries three ‘designated’ airports: Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. The next agreement is due to come into
force in 2006 for the period between 2006 and 2012.

For further information contact:

John Stewart, Chairman, HACAN ClearSkies: T 0207 737 6641 or M 07957 385650, jdm.stewart@virgin.net

Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, Stop Stansted Expansion: M 0777 552 3091 cbarbone@mxc.co.uk

Brendon Sewill, Chairman, Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign: 01293 863 369, gacc@btconnect.com

Press Release dated 17th October 2005

The launch will mark the start of a major Europe-wide
campaign to get rid of night flights. It comes just days after the end of the UK Government’s consultation on its plans to
increase night flights at Heathrow (2).

The new study (3) questions the value of night flights to Europe’s economy. It also argues there are no strong operational
reasons for night flights to continue. It calls on European countries to implement within 5 years the World Health
Organisation’s (WHO) recommended noise levels for night flights, which they have all signed up to (4).

The campaign is being backed by protest groups around airports right across Europe. Over the next two years they will use the
study — published in the form of attractively-produced briefing sheets — to lobby their national governments, MEPs and key
members of the European Commission for an end to night flights. Their aim is to persuade the European Commission, when it
publishes it revised Noise Directive in 2007, to require member states to put into practice the WHO guidelines on night flights
(5).

John Stewart, the Chair of the Heathrow pressure group HACAN ClearSkies and the author of the study, said “Over three and
a half million people across Europe are exposed to night flights. This campaign brings together protest groups from virtually
every country in Europe. Our study shows just how weak the arguments put forward for night flights actually are. Our aim is
to persuade European governments to put people’s health before the self-serving interests of the aviation industry.”

Caroline Lucas MEP, who will be hosting the launch in the European Parliament, said, “This campaign is built on solid
foundations. It is now clear that the economic importance of night flights has been greatly over-stated. It is also clear that
there are no overwhelming operational reasons why planes need to fly at night. I will be working with my colleagues of all
political persuasions in the European Parliament to make the case for applying WHO standards to night flights.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1). The launch will take place in Room ASP 8F388 of the European Parliament on Tuesday 20th September from 13.15 —
14.15.

(2). The consultation ends on 16th September. Every 5/6 years the Government enters into an agreement with the airlines on
the number of flights permitted between 11.30pm and 6am at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick. The current agreement will
run until 2006. After that the Government is proposing to increase flights numbers at Heathrow so that by 2011/12 there will
be 620 more a year between 11.30pm and 6am than there are at present.

(3). Summary enclosed

(4). The World Health Organisation guidelines recommend that no single outdoor event at night should exceed 60 decibels at
night (45 indoors) and that the average noise over an eight hour night period should not exceed 45 decibels outside (30
indoors). 59 countries across the world, including all EU countries, have signed up to the guidelines, but there is no agreed
timetable as to when they should come into force.

(5). The EU Noise Directive was published in 2002. It required member states to draw up noise maps and produce noise
action plans, but it did not specify any required noise levels. Over the next two years the European Commission will be
revising the Directive, with a revised proposals being ready for Spring 2007.

For further information contact:

John Stewart on 44 (0)207 737 6641 or 07957385650

Caroline Lucas on 32 2 284 5153

Press Release dated 13/09/05

Pressure Group HACAN ClearSkies has revealed that leading figures from BAA, the owner
of Heathrow Airport, and British Airways have got themselves key roles in the management
of Kew Gardens, the world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens which lie directly under the flight
path, just months before the Government is due to reveal its plans for a big increase of flights
over the Gardens. Marcus Agius, the Chairman of BAA, has a key fundraising role for Kew
as the Chairman of the Foundation and Friends of Kew. Andrew Cahn, the Director of
Government and Industry Affairs at British Airways, sits on Kew’s Board of Trustees.

Kew Gardens has consistently refused to speak out against the expansion of Heathrow. If the
Government goes ahead with plans to abolish runway alternation, Kew Gardens could be
under the flight path all day long. The Department for Transport is expected to consult on its
plans in March next year (1).

The role of the Foundation and Friends of Kew (2) is “to provide support for Kew by raising
funds for Kew’s activities”, according to the Kew Garden’s annual report. The report admits
that “financial support through bequests from Friends is becoming an increasingly important
source of income.”

HACAN Chair John Stewart said, “We are very suspicious about the motives of Marcus
Agius and Andrew Cahn. Have they wormed themselves into key positions in order to make
sure that Kew Gardens is not critical of plans to expand Heathrow? Certainly, local people
are in despair about Kew’s refusal to speak out.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

(1). At present aircraft landing over West London use one runway until 3pm before switching
to the other one in order to give people some relief from the noise. Kew Gardens benefits
from this. But the Department for Transport is expected put out proposals to public
consultation in March 2006 to end runway alternation.

(2). The Kew Gardens 2005 Annual Report describes the Foundation and Friends thus: “The
Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a registered charity
(registration no. 803428) which is independently administered. Its purpose is to provide
support for Kew by raising funds for Kew’s activities.” Its membership exceeds 64,000.

For further information contact:

John Stewart on 0207 737 641 or 07957385650

Press Release dated 16/08/05

Angry residents blasted aircraft noise from a sound system outside the home of BA boss Rod Eddington at 5am this morning. Campaigners against night flights paid an early morning visit to Rod Eddington’s home in the normally quiet Berkshire village of Shurlock Row. Their visit was timed to coincide with British Airways AGM which takes place today (1).

The protesters rigged up a sound system outside the BA Chief Executive’s two and a half million pound house and blasted out aircraft noise for 15 minutes. The campaigners, dressed in pyjamas, apologised to other residents of the village who came out of their homes to complain about the noise.

HACAN ClearSkies Chair, John Stewart, who accompanied the campaigners said, “Residents under the flight path wanted to say farewell to Rod Eddington by giving him a taste of his own medicine. The majority of night flights using Heathrow are operated by British Airways or one of its subsidiary companies. And BA is amongst the strongest supporters of night flights.”

Stewart added, “The campaigners have apologised to the other residents of the village who were woken up by the noise, but added the noise was less loud than the planes they have to put up with every night. Rod Eddington’s legacy to residents under the flight path has been one of countless sleepless nights.”

Notes for Editors

1. The British Airways AGM is being held today (Tuesday19th July) at 11am in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Conference Centre in Westminster at 11am. It will be Rod Eddington’s last AGM. In a couple of month’s time he is standing down as BA’s Chief Executive to become a Transport Adviser to the Government.

For further information call John Stewart on 020 7737 6641 or 07957 385650.

The Government is proposing to increase the number of night flights at Heathrow from 5,800 a year at present to reach 6,420 in 2011/12, according to the consultation on night flights released by the Department for Transport today (1).

The consultation was originally expected to be released in January of this year. Because of the delay, the Government has had no option but to retain the existing night flight regimes at Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick for another year. But from October 2006 the consultation proposes increasing the number of flights using Heathrow year by year until it reaches 6,420 in 2011/12.

The consultation is proposing limiting the noisiest planes currently using the three airports, but admits this will make little difference at Heathrow because all the night flights using the airport are large, noisy planes coming from the Far East, America and Africa.

John Stewart, Chair HACAN ClearSkies said, “We are disappointed the Government has ruled out a ban, but dismayed they are proposing an increase in night flights. More people will be woken up more often throughout the night. It will simply spread the night-time misery.”

The proposals all concern the period between 11.30pm and 6am, known as the night qouta period (2). The Department is arguing that, because the noisiest pplanes currently flying at night will be banned, they will be able to bring in more planes without worsening the overall noise climate at night. Stewart said, “The overall noise climate is meaningless to residents under the flight path. What matters is the number of passing over their homes. The Government knows this. That is why it has tried to bury the figure well into the consultation document”.

Notes to editors

1. Figures to be found in para 7.25 of the consultation document, but not mentioned in the Department’s press release.

2. The full night period runs from 11pm – 7am, but the Government is just proposing tough restrictions for what is called “the night quota period” from 11.30pm to 6am.

3. The full consulation document is available on the DfT website – the closing date for comments is 16th September.

For further information contact John Stewart on 020 7737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Over 150,000 people face a decade of blight because of the uncertainty over the expansion of Heathrow Airport, pressure group HACAN ClearSkies has claimed. They are under threat from delays in approving a third runway and a sixth terminal at the airport. The plans, first announced in the Government’s Aviation White Paper, are confirmed in BAA’s Master Plan published today (1).

In its Master Plan BAA admits that around 700 homes close to the airport will need to be demolished to make way for a third runway and a sixth terminal (2). But the Master Plan is expected to say less about the thousands of people who face the prospect of living under the third flight path that will be required for a third runway. In its Aviation White Paper the Government admitted that around 150,000 people under this new flight path would experience annoying levels of aircraft noise. Places affected include Slough and Maidenhead to the west of Heathrow and Heston, North Chiswick and parts of Kensington and Chelsea to the east of the airport.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, “Because a third runway is at least ten years away all these people will face a decade of blight. Hardest hit, of course, will be the communities of Sipson, Harmondsworth and Harlingon, which will be virtually wiped out if expansion takes place.”

Stewart added, “There is nothing new in today’s announcement from BAA. All these proposals were in the White Paper. But they do confirm the way that both the Government and the aviation industry are prepared to play with people’s lives in order to get what they want.”

Notes for Editors:

1. All airports are required to draw up Master Plans. They are expected to set out the way any proposals for expansion will affect the surrounding areas. The requirement was laid down in the Aviation White Paper, published in December 2003. The White Paper suggested that a 3rd runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow be put on the back-burner until at least 2015 because of the concern that they might result in EU legal limits for air pollution, due to come in at the end of 2009, being broken.

2. The publication of the Master Plan does not mean that permission has been given for a 3rd runway or 6th terminal. They would still need to go though a public consultation and Public Enquiry process.

3. The Government’s consultation document, produced in the run-up to the White Paper, estimated that around 150,000 people under the new flight path would experience noise levels in excess of 54 decibels (averaged out throughout the day) – the level where the World Health Organisation has found that the noise will be becoming seriously annoying. Some parts of North Chiswick, northern Earls Court and parts of Kensington currently have no aircraft at all.

For further information contact John Stewart on 020 7737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Chaos broke out when the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, who attended the launch of the new pressure group, Future Heathrow, today, was ‘pied’ by an environmental protestor. The young woman, who had evaded the tight security surrounding the launch, covered Alistair Darling in carrot cake and cream.

Meanwhile a lively demonstration of people opposed to a 3rd runway at Heathrow was taking place outside the building.

Future Heathrow, supported by many of the country’s leading airlines, the CBI and the London Chamber of Commerce, has been set up to lobby for a 3rd runway at Heathrow. It was launched this morning at the CBI headquarters at Centre Point in Central London. Former Labour MP Clive Soley, now Lord Soley, was unveiled as its Campaign Director.

Alistair Darling, the Secretary of State, made a surprise appearance on the platform. Shortly after the event began a young woman rose from her seat and ‘pied’ the minister. She shouted that ‘Future Heathrow stinks’ and that ‘Alistair Darling’s presence at the launch of this pressure group stinks’. The woman was then ejected from the building.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN ClearSkies, one of the groups organising the demonstration outside, said, “This was one in the eye for Alistair Darling. It is quite inappropriate that any Secretary of State should so publicly align himself with any pressure group. It really calls into question his impartiality and his judgement.”

Notes to editors

For further information call John Stewart on 020 7737 6641 or 07957 385650.

A demonstration will take place outside the CBI headquarters in London on Monday 23rd May to protest at the launch of Future Heathrow, an new industry-backed body set up to argue for the expansion of the airport (1). Monday’s launch will see Lord Soley, the former Labour MP Clive Soley (2), unveiled as Future Heathrow’s new Campaign Director. To challenge the arguments made by Future Heathrow that a 3rd runway and a 6th terminal are required for economic reasons, HACAN ClearSkies has issued a report which shows that, of the 22 million additional passengers who used Heathrow in 2004 compared with 1992, 19 million were transfer or transit passengers (3), just passing through the airport, thus contributing very little to the UK economy.

The HACAN ClearSkies Study reveals:

• between 1992 and 2004, of the 22 million additional passengers using Heathrow, 19 million were transfer or transit passengers

• in 1992, transfer and transit passengers only made up 9% of passengers using the airport; by 2004, they made up 35% of passengers

• transit and transfer passengers pay no Air Passenger Duty as they are just passing through

It also produces figures which give the lie to the aviation industry’s claims that a high number of transfer and transit passengers using the airport, while not directly contributing much to the economy, do make the airport more attractive to business because it serve more destinations:

• Heathrow is serving fewer destinations now than in 1992 – down from around 200 in the early 1990s to 184 today

• Gatwick, which has few transfer or transit passengers, now serves more destinations that Heathrow – 188.

The study also refutes the claims that London’s airports are being overtaken by Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris:

• it shows that 128 million people used London’s airports ( Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City) in 2004, compared with 73 million using Paris, 51 million Frankfurt and 42 million Amsterdam

• and that, between 1995 and 2004, there was an increase of 45 million people using London’s airports compared – much higher than the increase at Paris (18 million), Amsterdam (17 million) and Frankfurt (12 million).

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said, “Our study gives the lie to the industry claims that Heathrow needs to be expanded for economic reasons. London’s airports are not losing out to Europe’s airports. Indeed, if transfer and transit passenger numbers were reduced to sensible levels, the number of planes using Heathrow could actually be cut without hurting the national economy. The aviation industry should stop dressing up its desire to make ever-higher profits as “the national economic interest”. It is a pity that Clive Soley has fallen for their argument. We urge him to think again and quit lobbying for a bigger Heathrow which will bring so much extra misery to his former constituents.”

Stewart added, “Our members will be amongst those demonstrating outside the CBI on Monday to express their anger at the way Future Heathrow is willing to ride roughshod over their interests, but we are also challenging the very economic rationale behind their arguments.”

Notes to editors

1. Amongst the key backers of Future Heathrow are the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the London Chamber of Commerce, British Airways, the TUC and the trade unions, AMICUS and BALPA (the pilots union).

2. Until the General Election, Clive Soley was the Labour MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd’s Bush.

3. A transit passenger is one who flies into and departs from Heathrow on the same aircraft. A transfer passenger changes planes at Heathrow.

For more information contact:

John Stewart on 020 7737 6641 or 07957 385650

For information on the impact of a 3rd runway on the local community around Heathrow, contact Christine Shilling, Press Officer, NOTRAG on 020 8759 7389.

For information on the impacts of expansion at Heathrow on climate change, Friends of the Earth have issued a press release – contact Richard Dyer, their Aviation Campaigner, 07940 850328.