By Nadeem Hanif
Leicester Mercury – 10:15 – 07 October 2006
Protesters arrested at a demonstration on an airport runway have said they are the last generation that could prevent climate change.
Twenty four protesters are accused of breaching security at Nottingham East Midlands Airport on September 24.
They are part of environmental group Plane Stupid and all appeared at Loughborough Magistrates’ Court.
They are all charged with aggravated trespass, causing a public nuisance and entering a restricted area of an airport without permission.
Five are also accused of causing criminal damage.
Speaking after the hearing Leo Murray, one of the accused, said the group was opposed to cheap, short-distance air travel.
He said: “This is the last generation that will have the opportunity to do anything about it.
“It will not be possible to do anything in future.”
He said the group was calling for a tax on aviation, scrapping all new expansion work at airports and reducing aviation emissions.
In court, the group confirmed their names and did not enter pleas to any of the charges.
Those charged were: Alice Freedman (20), of Slad Road, Gloucester, Robin Gillett (20), of Granville Road, Manchester, Louise Edge (39), of Bevin Court, London, Rose Rickford, (21), of Tank Hall Lane, York, Cairi Jacks (20), of Tre’e ddol, Wales, Bruce Watson (21), Pelham Road, Beckenham, in Kent, Robert Logan (22), of Glossop Road, Sheffield, Joseph Wilson (30), of Peake Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, Malcolm Carroll (51), of Oxford Gardens, Stafford, Christopher Ward (35), of Anniversary Road, Newport, Buckinghamshire, Olivia Chessell (18), of Elsie Road, East Dulwich, in London, Oliver Sumerling (20), of Crooksmore Road, Sheffield, Joseph Mckay (17), of Stapleton Hall Road, London, Ellen Rickford (18), of Alkham Road, Hackney, London, Stephen Walters (31), of Calden Canal, near Leek, Patrick Gillett (22), of Duncombe Street, Sheffield, Christina Fraser (19), of The Street, Harwich, Essex, Joshua Moos (19), address not known, and Leo Murray (30), of Everton Road, London.
Theodora Middleton (20), of Canterbury Street, Cambridge, Graham Thompson (33), of Stanley Avenue, Romford, Essex, Alexander George (25), of Redmane Road, Stepney Green, in London, David Howarth (40), of Scorer Street, Lincoln and Andrew Girling (43), of Highfield Street, Dudley, West Midlands were also charged with criminal damage.
A 25th man, Roddy Mansfield (35), of Northgate Road, London, pleaded not guilty to the three charges.
They were all given conditional bail and ordered to reappear at the court on December 15 for a committal hearing to the crown court.
Responding to the concerns over the impact of air travel on the enviroment, a spokesman for the Department of Transport today said: “We have to be aware of the balance between the benefits of aviation the impact on the environment.”
He said Government was making aviation emissions a priority as part of the European Emissions Trading scheme by 2008.”