THIS MORNING’S protest at Stansted is a window to the future of Heathrow, a leading anti-airport campaigner has warned.
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“The occupation of Stansted is a clear sign of things to come if the Government doesn’t back down over its proposals to expand airports,” said John Stewart, a veteran Green activist.
“There is a great deal of anger at the impact these plans will have on the global climate and on local people’s quality of life.”
50-odd protesters from the Plane Stupid group cut their way through security fences at 3.15am to stage a stunt near the runway at Stansted and managed to stay there for a couple of hours before police removed them.
The runway is now working normally, but 21 flights were cancelled early this morning and the airport said there would be “knock-on effects”. Passengers travelling out off Stansted today are advised to contact their airlines for further details.
The immediate cause of the campaigners stunt is the plan to expand Stansted’s capacity from 25 million passengers a year to 35 million, but Stewart’s warning hints that the bigger prize is Heathrow, where a fight is underway over a scheme to build a third runway.
The strength of the anti-airport expansion campaign can be seen by transport minister Geoff Hoon’s move last week to delay a decision until next year on Heathrow’s future.
