Protestors block key road leading to the site

Early this morning a group of direct action protesters disrupted work on the site of Heathrow Terminal Five by blocking a key road leading to the site. The protesters have blocked a road that carries the vehicles that work on the site over Stanwell New Road (1).

This is the second time within a month that direct action protesters have disrupted work. Last month protesters occupied a crane on the Terminal Five Site for almost a week.

John Stewart, Chair of the anti-noise group HACAN ClearSkies, “Once again I’m sure that many local people will support the direct action. When the protesters climbed the crane last month we got lots of letters and phone calls from people wishing them well.”

Stewart added, “People are angry and bitter. They feel that they have been let down and lied to by the authorities. They were told that there would be no further expansion after Terminal Four. Then they were led to believe that Terminal Five would be the last major development at Heathrow. Now they are faced with the prospect of a 3rd runway. Many believe that direct action is the only thing that will make the authorities sit up and take notice.”

Notes for Editors

1. The road carries vehicles over Stanwell New Road. It is just south of the roundabout that connects Stanwell New Road with Bath Road.

For more information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Conservative mayoral candidate Stephen Norris has come out against a 3rd runway at Heathrow.

Conservative mayoral candidate Stephen Norris has come out against a 3rd runway at Heathrow. A Parliamentary Reception, held last night in the House of Commons (1), was told of Stephen Norris’s oppposition to a 3rd runway (2). The reception, staged jointly by Hillingdon Council and HACAN ClearSkies, brought together politicians from across London to express their opposition to a 3rd runway.

The reception, hosted by the three Hillingdon MPs, was attended by a wide range of MPs, peers, local authority representatives and campaigners (3).

John Stewart, chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said, “The message to government is crystal clear. The people and politicians of London are saying no to a 3rd runway.”

Stewart added, “It is of great significance that Stephen Norris has come out against a 3rd runway. He was a strong supporter of Terminal Five, but is now saying that enough is enough.”

Notes for Editors

1. The reception, ‘London Against a Third Runway at Heathrow’, was held in Committee Room 18 of the House of Commons from 6-7pm on Tuesday 18th November. It was sponsored by HACAN ClearSkies and co-ordinated by the London Borough of Hillingdon. The reception was jointly hosted by John McDonnell MP (Lab Hayes and Harlington), John Randall MP (Con Uxbridge) and John Wilkinson MP (Con Ruislip Northwood).

2. Stephen Norris sent a message of support to the meeting. Earlier he had written a letter to Hillingdon councillors outlining his position:

   Dear Councillor
   There are two current major issues affecting your borough where the Mayor of London has an important role — the third runway at Heathrow and the proposed West London tram scheme. I wanted, therefore, to take this early opportunity to set out my policy in these areas. As a former Minister for transport in London I am familiar with the arguments advanced for a third runway at Heathrow but I am clear that I cannot support such a proposal. The development would be detrimental to many thousands of Londoners whose homes are already significantly affected by increased levels of aircraft noise, traffic and pollution. When BAA made its case to the Inspector for a fifth terminal, the company indicated clearly that this would not necessarily lead to a third runway and I intend to hold them to that commitment.

3. Amongst those attending were Jenny Tonge MP (Lib Dem, Richmond Park), Ann Keen MP (Lab Brenford and Isleworth), Alan Keen MP (Lab Feltham and Heston); Anne McIntosh MP (Con, Vale of York and an official Conservative Spokesperson on Transport and the Environment); Darren Johnson (leader of the Greens on the GLA and Green Party Mayoral candidate); Richard Barnes (GLA member for Ealing Hillingdon); Lord Richard Faulkner (Chair of the All-Party Sustainable Aviation Group); Lord Berkeley; and Nick Lester, Head of Transport and the Environment at the Association of London Government (which represents all the boroughs and which has come out against a 3rd runway). Amongst the local authorities represented were Hillingdon, Hounslow, Richmond, Wandsworth and Chelsea and Kensington. Amongst those who sent their support were Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, Caroline Lucas MEP, Glenda Jackson MP and Sue Doughhty, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Minister. Gill Cannon represented the No Third Runway Campaign.

For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.

“This must rank as one of the longest guilty pleas in history”

Pressure group HACAN ClearSkies has claimed that the publication of BAA’s Water Strategy last week (1), is the first time the company has admitted the extent of the problems it has faced. BAA admits it has not cleaned up all the rivers and holding ponds that have been polluted by run-off water from the airport. The Strategy reveals that BAA has particular problems in dealing with groundwater.

HACAN ClearSkies ecology specialist Mike Riley said, “While we are pleased that BAA has at long last produced a strategy to deal with the water pollution it causes, we remain concerned that it has taken years for the company to admit the seriousness of the problem if faced. For over four years we have beeen called scaremongers and worse for pointing out the problems BAA now admits were there all the time! This must rank as one of the longest guilty pleas in history.”

Mike Riley added, “After years of almost complete denial that the airport was a major source of water pollution, BAA has recognised the real problems that we have been highlighting and investigating over the last four years. We will continue with our own investigations into river silt and monitor BAA’s progress in cleaning up the area around Heathrow. We will also press BAA to look at the areas further away from the airport. There is evidence to suggest that they are being polluted by run-off water from the airport.”

Note for Editors

1. The Water Quality Strategy, published by BAA, sets out the company’s plans for dealing with water for the years 2003-2008. The Strategy will be reviewed each year.

For further information contact Mike Riley on 07810 007477 or John Stewart, Chair HACAN ClearSkies, on 0207 737 641 or 07957 385650.

Residents ‘won’t lose any sleep’ over the end of Concorde

Residents won’t lose any sleep over the end of Concorde (1) pressure group HACAN ClearSkies claimed today.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said, “Residents under the flight path won’t lose any sleep over the demise of Concorde. Undoubtedly it was a beautiful bird, but it was also one of the noisiest and dirtiest beasts in the sky.”

Stewart added, “The real significance today, though, is that Concorde has shown that supersonic air travel has proved uneconomic. It means that manufacturers are now more likely to concentrate on producing cleaner and quieter sub-sonic planes rather than a new generation of supersonic jets. If supersonic travel had taken off, the constant noise for people under flight paths would have been truly horrendous.”

Notes for Editors

1. Concorde’s last flight will take place on Friday 24th October.

For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Campaigners turn up at Magistrates Court to support direct action crane protesters

The direct action protesters who climbed a crane on the Terminal 5 site at Heathrow were given a conditional discharge at Uxbridge Magistrates Court today. Each of the protesters were also asked to pay costs of £55.

Local campaigners against airport expansion tuned up at the court to support the protesters.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, which represents residents under the flight path, said, “An increasing number of local people now believe that direct action is the only way to make the Government listen. They feel that for years successive governments have ignored the concerns of people living under the Heathrow flight path. They were proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the crane protesters.”

Notes for Editors

1. All 8 protesters appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court at 9.30 am charged with “Aggravated Trespass”. One person pleaded not guilty. The Court will fix a date for his trial on November 3rd. The other seven protesters pleaded guilty.

On Monday 6th October the protestors climbed a crane on the site of Terminal 5. Four of them came down at the end of the day, but the remaining protestors stayed up until Saturday morning.

For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Campaigners to turn up at Magistrates Court to support direct action crane protestors

Campaigners against airport expansion are planning to turn up outside Uxbridge Magistrates Court (1) on Friday to support the protestors who climbed the crane on the Terminal 5 site last week. All 7 protestors will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court at 9.30 am on Friday 17th October charged with “Aggravated Trespass”.

On Monday 6th October the protestors climbed a crane on the site of Terminal 5. Four of them came down at the end of the day, but the remaining protestors stayed up until Saturday morning.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said, “A number of our members will be outside the court on Friday to give the protestors support. Increasingly, many of our members feel that direct action may be the only way to stop the expansion of Heathrow. Time and again they were promised that Heathrow would not expand further. Each time they were let down. They feel angry, bitter and betrayed.”

Notes for Editors

1. Uxbridge Magistrates Court is in the centre of Uxbridge, at the corner of the High St and Harefield Road.

For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Campaigners bring Road Show to the Borough of Hounslow

Last weekend campaigners against a third runway at Heathrow brought their Road Show to the Borough of Hounslow. (1). Members of the anti-noise group HACAN ClearSkies, together with the No Third Runway Action Group and leading Hounslow councillors, (2) took to the streets of the borough to warn residents that if a third runway gets the go-ahead, parts of the borough would be directly under the new flight path (3).

The Government is expected to announce its decision on a third runway when it publishes its Aviation White Paper in December. Other options for airport expansion in the South East include new runways at Stansted and Gatwick airports.

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, said, “Our Road Show is visiting the areas of London that will be under the new flight path if a third runway goes ahead. Many people in Hounslow will be living directly under the new flight path to Heathrow with a plane passing overhead every 90 seconds. It is a disgrace that the Government has not spelt out to people what is in store for them.”

Notes for Editors

1. The campaigners were in the borough on Saturday 18th October. They gave out leaflets from their lorry in Heston and in Hounslow Town Centre — pictures attached of the campaigners giving out leaflets in Heston.

2. HACAN ClearSkies is the well-established group which represents residents under the Heathrow flight path. The Road Show is a joint venture with Hillingdon and Hounslow councils and the No Third Runway Action Group (which represents the people in the southern part of Hillingdon whose homes are threatened by the third runway).

3. The new landing flight path will be to the north of the existing northern runway. People in North Chiswick, Norwood Green and Heston will be affected. People living under the existing flight paths will also experience more noise as they will get all the heavy, noisy planes because all the smaller aircraft will use the 3rd runway.

For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.

Campaigners from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted meet with direct-action experts

Campaigners against airport expansion are preparing to take direct action against any new runways the Government may propose in its Aviation White Paper, expected later this year (1). Earlier this week campaigners from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted met with members of the Rising Tide direct action network and other direct action experts (2). The protesters began the process of drawing up plans for a campaign of direct action and civil disobedience.

John Stewart, the Chair of HACAN ClearSkies, “New Labour could face the same sort of angry protests over runway expansion as the Conservatives encountered over their road building plans in the 1990s. Protesters are furious that the Government seems prepared to override the interests of local communities in its desire to please it friends in the aviation industry. It is no longer a question of if direct action will take place, but where.”

Stewart added, “It is significant that campaigners from all three of the South East’s main airports were present at the meeting about direct action. The message to Alistair Darling was quite clear: we will stand up to the bulldozers together.”

Protesters will be working closely with direct experts over the coming months to put in place a strategic campaign plan for direct action. This will include training local people in direct action techniques.

Notes for Editors

1. The Aviation White Paper is expected in December. It will include the Government’s decision on its favoured sites for new runways. The options for new runways and new airports were laid out in the consultation document published earlier this year. The consultation period ended on 30th June.

2. Individual campaigners from Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick were present along with members of Friends of the Earth. A similar meeting will be held in the Midlands to involve campaigners against the expansion of Birmingham Airport.

For further information contact John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650.