Forthcoming Public Meetings and Events
A growing number of campaign groups are organising events to show their opposition airport expansion, particularly at Heathrow. Here's your chance to join us and show the government what you think.
The NoTRAG website has a new look...
...but you can still find your old favourites.
We now have a newspaper-style format to reflect the change in our campaign, which stepped up a gear when the government decided to push ahead with a third runway.
We've introduced new features on these pages but favourites like our community page are only a click away.
New Ministerial Team at the Department of Transport
Date : Tuesday 16th June 2009
The dust has finally settled after the frenzy of activity that began with the revelations about MPs expenses.
Now it's easier to see the winners and losers in the manic game of musical chairs that Gordon Brown called a reshuffle.
Geoff Hoon's departure made way for Lord Andrew Adonis to become the Secretary of State for Transport.
The post of Minister of State for Transport goes to Sadiq Khan MP, who was a Human Rights solictor before entering parliament. It will be interesting to see if he respects the human rights of people adversely affected by the proposed Heathrow expansion.
Mr Khan will be attending Cabinet meetings when transport issues are discussed, since Lord Adonis does not sit in the House of Commons - as he was not elected and sits in the House of Lords.
Paul Clark MP has become Under Secretary of State for Transport, as has Chris Mole MP. It is understood that Mr Clark will be the man dealing with aviation.
Clark has stated that he supports a third runway at Heathrow. However, when there's the possibility of an Estuary airport in his own backyard, he suddenly expresses concern for the environment.
Former Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick, who always looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights when questioned on TV about a third runway, has gone to Defra.
As for Geoff Hoon, he plans to leave the scandal of MPs expenses behind him and jump on the European gravy train.
Hoon and Darling - all smiles and smelling of roses after paying back some expenses petty cash.
Another one bites the dust - Transport Secretary Hoon moves on
Date : Friday 5th June 2009
Another day, another cabinet member (or two) shuffles off into the sunset. Today it was the turn of Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.
A Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, once said: "A week is a long time in politics" and certainly this week has seen some remarkable events with four cabinet members and two junior ministers suddenly quitting.
Only yesterday, Geoff Hoon was a guest on BBC2's The Daily Politics. He arrogantly thought that he could out-smart Andrew Neil on political history but came a cropper as Neil, equiped with a long memory and an earpiece to the gallery, was able to put him straight.
Neil then went in for the kill with some well-researched questions on expenses and house "flipping". Trying to defend the indefensible, Hoon only managed to make himself look even less likely to be in a job by the end of the week. However, when Neil asked if he planned to move in the reshuffle Hoon grinned and said he wasn't packing his bags.
Either he hadn't spotted Gordon sharpening the axe or someone else was clearing his desk!
"Don't worry dear, it's only a "flipping" transport job. Soon I'll be getting my expenses paid in Euros!"
Anti-airport expansion campaigners have seen numerous Transport Secretaries come and go but they will be particularly pleased to see the back of Buff-Hoon.
He treated the people under threat from Heathrow expansion with contempt. He refused to meet them and clearly couldn't be bothered to discover the facts for himself, relying on biased briefings from civil servants.
When Hoon eventually agreed to meet residents this spring, they discovered that they were part of a group of around 50 people from constituencies around London. It meant individuals had 90 seconds each to make a statement. Most chose to ask a question, but few got answers. No wonder Hoon didn't do his homework, he was too busy completing all those expenses forms.
His departure was welcomed by Greenpeace, whose executive director John Sauven said: "Geoff Hoon's resignation is an ideal opportunity for Labour to ditch its disastrous Heathrow policy and make a clean break from the past."
If the new Transport secretary, Lord Adonis, continues to back a third runway he will ensure Labour gets a thrashing in the general election in any constituency where airport expansion is proposed.
Euro Elections: Labour stands alone in support of third runway
Date : Sunday 31st May 2009
A survey of candidates in the European elections on 4th June shows that the Labour Party has become isolated in its support of a third runway at Heathrow.
HACAN, a campaign group for those who suffer due to aircraft noise, wrote to all the leading candidates standing in both the London and South East constituencies to ask their views on Heathrow expansion.
No Labour candidate responded, yet representatives of all the other political parties took the opportunity to voice opposition to the expansion plans.
Both Charles Tannoch MEP (Con) and Richard Ashworth MEP (Con) support the Conservative Party's opposition. Sarah Ludford MEP (Lib Dem) confirmed the committment of the Liberal Democrats to stop a third runway and added, "I have personally been an outspoken opponent of Heathrow expansion for the decade that I have been an MEP."
Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas MEP said, “I am completely opposed to the proposal to build a third runway at Heathrow and am campaigning to put the brakes on all airport expansion, because it is massively incompatible with the need to significantly reduce greenhouse gases by 2020.”
Jean Lambert MEP listens to NoTRAG's Linda McCutcheon when The Green Party bus stopped in Sipson on 29th May.
Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London said, “I do not support the third runway because I believe it is bad for the environment, bad for health, bad for education and because the economic case is not made.”
Nigel Farage MEP, the UKIP Leader, said, “I remain unconvinced that a third runway is necessary for any economic reason and from a social perspective it is highly undesirable.”
Both the British National Party and the English Democrats also expressed their opposition to a third runway.
John Stewart of HACAN with Jean Lambert MEP and Green Party candidate John Hunt.
HACAN Chair John Stewart said, “The silence from the Labour candidates has been deafening. We know there are many individual members of the Labour Party who oppose Heathrow expansion but this survey confirms just how isolated the Government is on the issue.”
Campaign group calls for a "clear out and clean up" of DfT
Date : Tuesday 26th May 2009
Following revelations that the Department for Transport has been spying on Heathrow critics, campaign group HACAN has called for the next government to "clear out and clean up" the department.
Civic Servants at the DfT have been squandering public money on pointless monitoring of members of the public who have voiced concerns about Heathrow expansion.
The people who approved this action are presumably the same people who provide Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon with briefings - since he considers himself far too busy to gather and read relevant information for himself.
HACAN Chair John Stewart said, “If he had any honour at all, Transport Minister Geoff Hoon would resign over this. But it is a clear sign of the Government’s desperation that they are losing the battle over a third runway that they have to stoop as low as this. If we ever have meetings with civil servants, they may as well caution us that anything we say will be taken down and used as evidence against us and handed to the Police!”
Stewart added, “In the longer-term, the challenge for the next Government will be to clean up the Department for Transport and have a wholesale clear out of the civil servants in the aviation sector.”
British Airways reports record loss of £401 million
Date : Friday 22nd May 2009
With a deficit even wider than business analysts predicted, the future looked gloomy as British Airways reported a pre-tax loss of £401 million.
The figures reflect that as passengers numbers have dropped (particularly in first and business class) fuel costs have increased by a massive 44.5 per cent to almost £3 billion.
Despite desperate attempts to woo premier passengers to BA with a free taxi to and from Heathrow's T5, no one sees an early change to the decline in demand.
Taxi for Mr Walsh! Can't fill his planes and losing shedloads of cash but still claims Heathrow needs another runway.
“It’s a sobering set of numbers and a very downbeat outlook statement,” said Douglas McNeill, a transport analyst at Blue Oar Securities in London. “There’s more red ink than green shoots.”
The airline will park as many as 16 planes and cut winter capacity by 4 percent as it struggles to fill seats.
Chief Executive Willie Walsh has always emphasised the importance of Heathrow jobs but the current situation demonstrates how vulnerable airport workers are to an economic downturn. Currently, his staff are being offered the option of unpaid leave or working part-time.
Walsh, in a conference call with reporters, declined to specify how many jobs would be lost - though, no doubt, he intends to keep his own. Meanwhile, shareholders won't be getting a 2008 dividend.
Latest must-see Climate Change movie
If you missed the amazing premiere, look out for nationwide screenings. Screenings during half term include three at Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH:
Tuesday, May 26 at 12pm to 2pm. Lecture Centre Room 061.
Wednesday, May 27 at 3pm to 5pm. The Academy, Union of Brunel Students, Hamilton Centre.
Wednesday, May 27 at 6pm to 8pm. Lecture Centre Room 061.
There is a suggested donation of £1 at the door.
Richard Briers digs for victory on Airplot
Date : Tuesday 12th May 2009
Actor Richard Briers dug out his wellies and headed down to Greenpeace's plot of land in Sipson village to start planting on the Airplot allotment and oppose a third runway.
Richard, star of classic eco sit-com The Good Life, was joined by Alys Fowler, presenter of BBC's Gardeners' World.
Alys Fowler, Anna Jones and Richard Briers
The TV personalities helped plant fruit trees and vegetables on the site of the proposed third runway. Greenpeace activists and local residents joined in with plants and equipment donated by B&Q, Sipson Garden Centre and the residents themselves.
Fight expansion - value your roots!
The land was bought by Greenpeace in November and is now owned by 45,000 of its members including Emma Thompson, Zac Goldsmith and Alistair McGowan.
In this joint venture between Garden Organic and Greenpeace, raised beds were planted with a selection of organic vegetables for the Heritage Seed collection with two Bright Future apple trees settled in nearby.
Richard Briers plants an apple tree
The apple trees were selected as a mark of respect to Richard Cox, creator of the Cox's Orange Pippin apple, who is buried in St Mary's Churchyard in neighbouring Harmondsworth village, which would be at risk from the third runway development.
Richard Briers said: "I'm planting carrot seeds. After they've grown I'm going to send a runway carrot once a year to every member of the cabinet. I'm hoping they'll become so attached to them that they'll drop their plans for Heathrow expansion. It's always best to reach for the carrot rather than the stick."
Thank you Richard, you've earned a sit down
Alys Fowler said: "This year, grow something, anything, and you will make your world a cleaner, greener more pleasant place to be. Grow something you can eat or drink — a simple mint tea, a salad, your own cucumber for a sandwich and you will not only taste something mind blowing, but you'll lighten your footprint in the nicest possible way."
Bob Sherman from Garden Organic said: "We have always taken the view that growing your own food is about helping the environment as well as being healthy."
Greenpeace climate campaigner Anna Jones said: "A third runway cannot and will not be built. The whole country is against this ridiculous plan, and tired of a government that lectures them on doing their bit for the environment, and then turns around to support huge carbon-intensive infrastructure. The Government needs to get out of bed with the aviation industry and listen to the scientists, voters and businesses that understand that Heathrow expansion has no place within a low-carbon future."
Engraved plaque on the Airplot potting shed
The project has numerous endorsements from celebrity gardeners, including Monty Don, who said: "The plan for a third runway at Heathrow is institutionalised madness and I wish Richard and the community of Sipson the best of luck in their campaign."
BAA Losses Soar
Date : Tuesday 5th May 2009
BAA has lost £316 million in the first three months of the year alone as passenger numbers dropped and the group's interest payments on its massive £9.5billion debt racked up.
BAA, which operates Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted said losses in the first quarter of 2009 are six times worse than in the same period last year.
We, like everyone else, are wondering when the bottom of the market is......
Colin Matthews, BAA Chief Executive
While passenger numbers have fallen by 10%, BAA's operating costs have soared by 20% - due to the new Terminal 5 and taking on more staff to reduce security queues.
Its interest bill - a legacy of the £15 billion takeover of BAA by Ferrovial three years ago - has quadrupled to £327 million.
On top of all that, the group was forced to take further losses on the writedown in the value of Heathrow's ageing terminals 1 and 2 as well as a charge on its pension scheme.
The 16% rise in revenues to £522 million, aided by a weaker pound and shorter security queues giving passengers more time to spend in the shops, has been wiped out by the losses.
Cemetery processions demonstrate respect for the dead
Date : Saturday 2nd May 2009
Two solemn processions of "mourners" took place on Saturday to show respect for the dead, something that the governement has disregarded with its plans to drive a road through Cherry Lane Cemetery.
BAA will have hoped that the Cherry Lane Against Development campaign (CLAD) would disband when BAA announced that they would not disrupt graves.
However, even if BAA's word could be trusted, the company admitted that it was the government and not them that would decide on the position of any roads created to serve a new third runway.
CLAD founder Natasha Le Mothe, 34, whose father is buried at the cemetery said: "The anguish that this proposal has caused has made us want to go out and do something that is very visual, that's very powerful."
On Saturday morning Police estimated over 200 people followed the hearse in a procession through Central London from Trafalar Square down Whitehall to the Houses of Parliament.
Then, at 3pm, another procession of similar size walked from Harlington Baptist Church to Cherry Lane Cemetery itself.
Procession sets off from Harlington Village Green
Young and old and various faiths took part
John McDonnell MP reads the eulogy
In the beautifully kept cemetery grounds, Natasha's disabled mother, Edna, introduced religious leaders and local MP John McDonnell.
After prayers and blessings, small candles were lit to remember those people who have been laid to rest in the cemetery and to demonstrate that this campaign to save their final resting place lives on.
Third Runway Activist targeted to become police spy
Date : Saturday 25th April 2009
A climate change campaigner who has pledged to fight the third runway, and "adopted" a Sipson woman as part of a new alliance between activists and residents, has been approached to become a police informant.
Matilda (Tilly) Gifford (24), a social worker from Glasgow, was approached by officers from Strathclyde Police when she went to collect some belongings from a police station. The items had been confiscated by police following Tilly's arrest last month during a protest at Aberdeen Airport.
Tilly (front left) at launch of Adopt-a-Resident in Harmondsworth
Tilly and other members of the direct action group Plane Stupid had suspected that police were attempting to infiltrate their network and had even put members under surveillance.
Consequently Tilly was prepared to record the conversations she had with the two men, who had been introduced to her as a detective constable and his assistant.
In an attempt to persuade Tilly to regularly supply information on activists, the men offered tax-free untraceable cash and suggested that she would be one of "thousands" of paid informants in groups across the political spectrum.
Having passed the recordings to The Guardian newspaper, Tilly explained: "It was about getting evidence of the intimidatory tactics of police, and the way they try to stop people taking action on climate change."
BAA letter worries residents
Date : Monday 20th April 2009
A week after activists adopted Heathrow Villages residents who are prepared to fight eviction, BAA sent many of those residents a letter suggesting that it was looking at ways to move them out of the villages in the near future.
The letter, from BAA Chief Executive Colin Matthews, was sent out on 7th April and referred to a letter sent in January, which said he would let residents within the company's Property Market Support Bond Scheme area know what would happen to their properties. (These homes are in the demolition area.)
According to this latest letter, BAA has been working with "airline colleagues" to finalise a proposal that they hope to announce "in the coming period".
The aim is, apparently, "to give those residents who wish to end the uncertainty surrounding their homes, a chance to move on as soon as practically possible".
So what has prompted BAA to send this "Dear neighbour" now? It doesn't give any details of the scheme and actually increases uncertainty for residents in this threatened community. The timing is interesting, considering the Adopt-a-Resident event.
While some local people have suffered considerable hardship because they need to move and cannot find buyers prepared to accept the BAA bond as a guarantee against property blight, the majority of people have no plans to leave their homes - unless forced to.
However the letter, which has even been sent to council tenants, has raised fears about the effect on the community of a new scheme that could increase blight.
It is clear that the current bond scheme needs to be re-examined, but BAA are doing little to gain the public's trust by issuing such letters. Unfortunately for them, after a history of deception, residents are reading between the lines.
Anti-runway campaigners take Government to court
Date : Tuesday 7th 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.
The groups taking legal action are: NoTRAG, HACAN, 7 local authorities in West London (Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond-upon-Thames, Wandsworth and Windsor & Maidenhead) plus Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund UK, Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Key points of the challenge are:
The UK risks breaching noise targets and the EU legal limits on air pollution.
The decision will seriously undermine Government efforts to meet its emissions target to tackle climate change.
The final plan the Government adopted was so different from the proposals it consulted on there should have been further consultation.
When the Government consulted on its plans for a third runway and a sixth terminal it stated BAA would only get the go-ahead to draw up plans for expansion if it was confident that the EU's 2010 legal limits on air pollution could be met.
It also said that the size of the area within the 57 decibel noise contour should be same as it was in 2002. Already there are areas around Heathrow where air pollution exceeds the EU legal limit.
The claimants argue that the decision the Government made, that the introduction of cleaner and quieter planes will offset the noise and pollution from a predicted 50% increase in flights, is faulty and “irrational” in law.
In January the Government also said it would limit flights on the new runway if it appeared that the noise, air pollution or emissions targets would be breached.
This is unrealistic considering the huge investment in the runway. It is also different from the proposals in the consultation.
If the challenge is successful the decision would be quashed and the consultation re-run. The government may also have to review its entire aviation policy.
Shaun Spiers of CPRE said, “The decison on a third runway was stitched up behind closed doors, and the Government seems less and less prepared to subject its decisions on aviation to proper public scrutiny. Aviation policy has become so democratically challenged that a legal challenge is the only way for groups like us to influence it."
NoTRAG's Geraldine Nicholson said, “This legal challenge shows that we are prepared to use every avenue open to us to save our communities from destruction. We are fighting the Government in the courts and fighting to win.”
Local MP warns that taxpayer could be left with the bill for a third runway
Date : Tuesday 16th June 2009
If BAA goes bust the taxpayer could be left to pay the full cost of a third runway, warned Hayes and Harlington MP, John McDonnell, today.
Mr McDonnell asked for the proposals to be looked at again in light of the current economic situation.
BA staff asked to take pay cut while executives to pledge funds to evict residents
Date : Tuesday 16th June 2009
British Airways is asking thousands of staff to work for nothing, for up to one month, in a bid to help the airline survive. Yet executives are in talks with BAA to help fund the removal of Sipson and Harmondsworth residents for a third runway.
BA sent an email to more than 30,000 UK workers asking them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work.
Last month, BA posted a record annual loss of £401m. The airline's staff have had their pay frozen and more than 2,500 jobs have been axed since last summer.
To add to the airline's problems, cabin crew could walk out over plans to cut the 14,000 workforce by 2,000. They have also been asked to consider unpaid leave and part-time positions.
Meanwhile, ground staff have rejected proposals to cut pay or face compulsory redundancy.
Strike chaos looms this summer and, in the battle with unions, BA will claim to be in a "fight for survival". Despite this, the airline is in talks with BAA bosses who need money to buy up properties in the villages on the third runway site.
The Government has stated that BAA must pay to clear the demolition area regardless of its own debt problems. BAA must expect to obtain money from airlines as it has already announced that it plans to start buying properties shortly.
If the third runway is to go ahead the money must be found - even if that means more job losses.
To keep hold of his own job, BA chief executive Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000. He will also not take an annual bonus this year, reportedly foregoing up to will forgo up to £550,000 in shares. BA has since announced it will not award any cash bonuses.
Before you shed a tear for Willie, remember he will receive a basic salary of £674,000 and deferred shares worth around £40,000.
If he manages to meet his targets, despite the recession, he will be in line for £1.1million in 2012 under a long-term shares scheme.
Plane Stupid strikes at London's City Airport
Date : Wednesday 10th June 2009
As a tube strike crippled the capital and workers struggled to make their daily journey, jet-setting businessmen were inconvenienced by a Plane Stupid protest at London's City Airport.
Five members of the direct action group, dressed in pinstriped suits and bowler hats, managed to shut down operations at the airport's private jet centre.
In what they described as a 'Corporate Takeover', the Eco-activists entered at 2.30 am to cut through the perimeter fence and form a human wheel clamp around one of the airport’s business jet fleet at the west end of the runway.
The group did not use their normal tactic of locking themselves to structures because the process of cutting them free could have generated sparks near highly-flamable aviation fuel.
On a day when many of London's workers were packed onto what public transport was still running despite the RMT strike, there was little sympathy for people who use private jets.
The selfishness of this mode of travel was highlighted by the protesters. "Because of their low passenger capacity, small jets emit between five and 10 times more carbon per passenger than commercial flights,” said spokeswoman Nancy Birch. “In an age where we face potentially catastrophic climate change, this is no longer an acceptable form of transport. It’s time that private jets were grounded for good.”
Ms Birch also commented, “The aviation industry seems to think it can pollute its way out of climate change. But anyone with half a brain will know that this is just plane stupid.”
As part of this action, Plane Stupid pointed out that air pollution levels in Newham, where London City Airport is located, regularly exceed EU safety limits for highly toxic chemicals such as Nitrus Oxide. (A similar situation to the Heathrow area.) It says Newham has the highest levels of mortality in under 30s in the UK from asthma, a matter that AsthmaUK are currently investigating.
Payback time for Hoon and his "flipping" colleagues
Date : Tuesday 2nd June 2009
While Gordon Brown considers how to reshuffle his cabinet, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has decided to repay money he claimed on his designated second home.
Hoon claimed bills in advance for a full year on his Derbyshire property - but in the same year he claimed a different house was his second home.
It seems Hoon was so busy thinking how to destroy homes for a third runway that he forgot in which of his homes he was living at the time. He has apologised and blamed an "inadvertent administrative error".
The former Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, has also agreed to pay back money (£668), part of a £1,000 six-monthly service charge on a flat he moved out of two months later.
Darling, currently Chancellor, has said he is "very sorry" and had always tried to make sure he did the "right thing" during his time as an MP. So will he resign or step down? Gordon Brown says it was an inadvertent mistake - so we'll take that as a no.
Our Prime Minister clearly sees nothing wrong with Darling frequently "flipping" his homes (switching which property is declared as a second residence in order to claim maximum expenses).
He doesn't see the hypocrisy of Transport Ministers (Hoon, Darling, Kelly) insisting that people in Sipson and Harmondsworth lose their homes while they juggle properties and claim for luxurious furnishings.
Bizarrely Darling, now running the country's finances, has also claimed that he can't even manage his own tax affairs and has made the public pay for his tax advice from a colleague's husband.
In the run-up to Thursday's local and European elections, Mr Brown told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he was not "arrogant" or "unwilling to listen".
Campaigners against Heathrow expansion would say these words accurately describe a Prime Minister who ignores the facts about pollution and the cost of expansion - not to mention the result of a public consultation.
Home Secretary Jacquie Smith (whose husband apparently downloaded porn movies at the taxpayers' expense) is set to leave the cabinet. How many others will shuffle off with her?
Terminal 5 subsidence problems shrugged off by BAA
Date : Monday 1st June 2009
A phenomenon known as heave is said to be causing costly damage to the south side of Terminal 5 according to a report by The Daily Mail.
Heave, caused by swelling of the notoriously troublesome London Clay on which the terminal is built, has reportedly been causing tile damage and led to experts being called in to assess the situation.
The Daily Mail report claims that an engineer from a company involved in the initial construction has said that the movement is unlikely to be a short-term issue and could cause problems for several decades.
The engineer added that the problem has been exacerbated because T5 owner BAA had chosen a cheaper foundation design that is not as effective in guarding against heave as others.
BAA spokesperson Mary Kearney has insisted that some level of ground movement is to be expected in a building the size of Terminal 5 and was nothing to worry about.
However, during the construction of Terminal 5 NoTRAG had heard rumours of problems caused by the site and some construction workers had predicted future problems.
Environmental group Greenpeace has called for more information on the extent of the subsidence and any data BAA and the Government have on the effects of this as it will have an impact on the plans to build a sixth terminal nearby - on the site currently occupied by Sipson village.
Department of Transport passes data on Heathrow critics to police
Date : Monday 25th May 2009
Civil servants have been compiling dossiers on opponents of Heathrow expansion and handing them over to police, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Political Reporter Ian Drury revealed that Communications staff at the Department for Transport are gathering information on legitimate objectors. These people are not just those involved with campaign groups, such as NoTRAG and HACAN, but ordinary members of the public who have written letters or taken part in demonstrations or protests.
Workers at the DfT (or DafT as it is becoming known) have spent their time, and taxpayers' money, trawling through websites, news articles and public consultations in order to brief detectives.
The existence of the "communications directorate" charged with monitoring opposition to a third runway was revealed in a written Parliamentary answer from Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.
Mr Hoon claimed the information was being passed to police to ensure public safety.
In response Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said, "The fact that the monitoring was being undertaken by a communications and public relations team, rather than by the police or security service officials strongly suggests the Government's real concerns about protests are political and nothing to do with national security or public order."
The DfT claims that all the information gathered was readily available in the public domain. If that was the case, how useful was the information? Some campaigners wonder whether such tactics are aimed at discouraging any form of protest. Linda McCutcheon, NoTRAG secretary, told the Evening Standard: “I'm disgusted that our Government is using such sinister tactics to keep us in check — it's tantamount to blackmail.”
EuroFlashmobs show united front against airport expansion
Date : Saturday 16th May 2009
Anti-airport expansion campaigners at six European airports co-ordinated a simulataneous protest to dispell the myth that Europeans are willing participants in the aviation industry's race to concrete over vast areas.
The Flashmobs took place at Frankfurt (Germany), Schiphol (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), Dublin (Ireland, Charles de Gaulle (France) and, of course, Heathrow (England).
At Heathrow's Terminal One Departures, protesters staged a Eurovision-themed flashmob with a sing-a-long to past Eurovision hits - with some fun lyric changes.
On this occasion the flashmob had been allocated an area away from the check-in desks but many passengers couldn't resist checking out the source of the music. There was also a break-out conga line to spread the word.
HACAN chairman John Stewart said "We wanted to give a lie to the claim by the pro camp that if expansion does not happen here, it will happen elsewhere in Europe. There is a movement happening right across Europe and we are proud to be a part of that."
Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell, as always personally giving his support to anti-expansion protests, was asked to address the crowd and couldn't resist a joke at the expense of MPs who have other priorities: "I can't stay long today - I have to get home to clean the moat!"
Fury as more pro-runway MPs have expense claims exposed
Date : Friday 15th May 2009
Hoon, McNulty, Blears, Darling, Morley, Malik, Vaz....the list of pro-runway MPs under scrutiny for creative property allowance claims continues to grow.
"It's a hard knock life - for us!"
It's staggering that these contemptible specimens had the nerve to insist that honest, decent residents living near Heathrow should be evicted from their homes when these MPs have benefitted from homes paid for and comfortably furnished by the taxpayer.
The police are now, quite rightly, investigating the claims of some MPs. Two of those MPs are reported to be Tony McNulty and Geoff Hoon who have been accused of "flipping" - which enabled MPs to choose which of their properties to nominate as their main residence, thus enabling generous allowances to be claimed on second properties.
After being exposed by the Daily Telegraph, "flipping" Hazel Blears flashed a cheque for the £13,000 she planned to pay back. Clearly this was petty cash to Blears. It represented the captial gains tax she had avoided by claiming a property was a main residence when, in fact, she had stated it was a second home to claim a her full allowance of over £20,000 a year. It was a gesture that insulted the public - who would not so easily forget the £45,000 profit she made on the sale of that property.
We have a Communities Minister who cares so little about communities that she gives the go ahead for plans that will destroy quality of life for people near Heathrow and Stansted yet can still grin from ear to ear at the thought that those same people are funding her lavish lifestyle and property dealings.
We have a Transport Minister who has used taxpayers' money to build a £1.7 million property portfolio yet sees nothing wrong with destroying the homes of Sipson residents knowing there is nowhere for them to go.
We had, until he was suspended, an arrogant Justice Minister who could not understand the injustice of claiming for a home cinema and massaging chair for his "second home" while other famillies are struggling to keep one roof over their heads.
Mummy's boy says he lives with parents
Investigations into these expenses claims should be swift. MPs who have been dishonest should be treated with the same sympathy as benefits cheats and crooks who raid the poor box.
Emergency Fuel Dumping - fears for health, environment and safety
Date : Monday 7th May 2009
Aircraft that need to return to ground shortly after takeoff dump fuel so as not to exceed the maximum landing weight. This procedure is continuing to cause concern.
Although this fuel dumping usually takes place over water, many people living under flightpaths have remarked that they can smell, even taste, aircraft fuel on some occasions.
Recently a journalist driving on the A3 noticed, what appeared to be, a spray of fuel on his car windscreen. He began to ask questions, which prompted anti-expansion campaigners to take a look at the issue.
When released at high altitude, the kerosene is said to evaporate and, according to the Health Council of the Netherlands (Sept 1999) "hardly affects the air quality in the airports operations system." That year KLM, the dutch airline, dumped 1060 ton of kerosene in this way.
But can it be safe to inhale vapour from aircraft fuel, which includes various additives? Certainly airport workers would be warned of the danger to health of prolonged and repeated exposure to Jet A-1 fuel.
If the fuel enters a watercourse it will be degraded either biologically or chemically. This process reduces the oxygen level in the water, damaging aquatic life.
The most recent investigation into a fuel dumpling incident was concluded on 5th May 2009 by The Washington Department of Ecology who said they wouldn't take enforcement action against Asiana Airlines after one of its aircraft jettisoned 34,200 pounds of jet fuel (about 5,000 gallons) over Puget Sound on 29th April 2009.
Some of the fuel did reach land and water, with residents reporting being sprayed with fuel droplets.
The Department of Ecology said no penalties or fines would be levied because the fuel release occurred as part of an emergency operation to safely land the plane and save lives.
So which type of plane was forced to take emergency action after experiencing engine failure shortly after takeoff? It was a Boeing 777 - the same aircraft that crash landed at Heathrow in January 2008 and is still causing concern. (See website entry 13th March 2009)
People living under flightpaths could have more to worry about than just fuel dumping.
The aftermath of 777 crash at Heathrow
Key Business Leaders speak out against a Third Runway
Date : Monday 4th May 2009
Another sign that the Government is out of touch with opinion has come with the news that a group of key figures in British business have come out publicly against Heathrow expansion.
Russell Chambers, an adviser at Credit Suisee who was instrumental in forming the group, told the Sunday Times: “Many people in business have misgivings about the decision on the third runway, both in terms of the rationale put forward and the environmental impact. It’s possible to be pro-transport, pro-aviation and yet, at the same time, pro responsible citizenship.”
Business leaders who are opposed to a third runway include:
Justin King of J Sainsbury
Charles Dunstone of Carphone Warehouse
Ian Cheshire of Kingfisher
Sir Roy Gardner, chairman of Compass
David Levin, chief executive of United Business Media
Jon Moulton of Alchemy and Dominic Murphy of KKR - two leading players from private equity.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the London Chamber of Commerce have been staunch supporters of a third runway but it is now clear that this view is not shared by all their members.
It follows a split in trade union support for expansion when late last year six trade unions came out against a third runway: UNISON, RMT, TSSA, ASLEF, PCS and CONNECT.
Euro Flashmob to pop into Terminal One
Date : Monday 27th April 2009
Campaigners against airport expansion are linking up across Europe with co-ordinated flashmobs in at least six countries on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest - Saturday, 16th May.
As well as the flashmob at Heathrow, there will be similar events in Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels and Dublin.
Promptly at noon, participants will reveal their red T-shirts and enjoy a peaceful and fun sing-a-long of Eurovision classics. (The event will be finished by one o'clock.)
NoTRAG is hoping you'll be "Making Your Mind Up" to join us in Terminal One departures and show the aviation industry that they've met their "Waterloo". Song sheets will be provided but feel free to download your favourite Eurovision song on your ipod or mobile.
We want BAA to get in tune with public opinion. Everyone is saying, "No Third Runway!"
So dust off your dancing shoes, dig out your glitter wig and dress up to disco. Let's party!
Budget latest
Date : Wednesday 22nd April 2009
Debt-ridden Chancellor's latest brainwave - begging letters
While the financial analysts mull over the detail, one thing is immediately clear - Britain's level of debt is staggering, even without a third runway.
Experts appearing on BBC TV referred to having "heart attacks" over the amount of debt revealed.
Conservative leader, David Cameron, looked at Labour's legacy to the next generation and said: "Our children will be in poverty for decades".
Richard Lambert of the CBI, who supports a third runway, had hoped that the budget would be a credible way to restore the county's finances but admitted he was disappointed. He said the government is going to have to raise "huge sums of money".
So Richard, where is the money coming from to replace all the schools, roads and services destroyed by a third runway? What about the additional cost to the health service and social services? The bill will have to be paid by the taxpayer NOT BAA.
If the CBI has the answer we want to hear it.
Lord Stern questions third runway decision
Date : Tuesday 21st April 2009
Lord Stern who, as advisor to the government on climate change wrote the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, has questioned the Government's decision to go ahead with a third runway at Heathrow.
In a pre-Budget article for The Times, Lord Stern says the Budget is a critical test of the consistency and credibility of the Government's policies on climate change.
He points out the Government has accepted the overwhelming arguments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions but approving the third runway undermines confidence in the UK's ability to meet its climate change target.
Lord Stern continues: "For example, big transport decisions, such as the third runway at Heathrow, should be taken only if they make sense in the context of a coherent carbon and transport policy for the UK, and, preferably, for Europe as a whole.
"I would be surprised if the construction of a third runway at Heathrow passed that test, which will be applied by the Committee on Climate Change by the end of this year. The runway decision should not have been taken before the committee's examination."
What did your Easter break do for British jobs?
Date : Tuesday 14th April 2009
While many who usually travel abroad at Easter decided to stay in Britain, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) were expecting 2 millions Brits to head overseas. So which group was helping the struggling British economy?
It sounds like a no-brainer. If British people holiday in Britain their cash will be going into the tills of businesses based here. From cafes and shops to holiday parks and leisure facilities, all will benefit from the money that Brits normally spend abroad. Yet the Government will have you believe that flying to other countries creates more British jobs.
In "Airport jobs: false hopes, cruel hoax", published last month by the Aviation Environment Federation, economist Brendon Sewill questions claims that airport expansion creates jobs, finding that, despite a 30% increase in the number of passengers using UK airports between 1998 and 2004, the number directly employed by airports rose by only 3%.
He adds that York Aviation calculations - that jobs would rise by 21% with a predicted passenger increase of 110% between 2004 and 2030 - fail to factor in the jobs that would be lost should the number of UK residents going on foreign holidays continue to increase, saying that the UK's aviation tourism deficit was around GBP17bn in 2008, "costing the country around 900,000 jobs".
Feb 09: Pontin's saw a 20% increase in summer bookings and announced plans to create more than 2,000 jobs
So be proud of your slightly soggy snaps, there are many British workers who have a lot to thank you for.
Custard thrower cautioned
Date : Thursday 9th April 2009
Leila Deen, the Plane Stupid activist who threw green custard over Lord Mandelson, has been cautioned by police.
As for Lord Mandelson, he had no comment. No doubt he's busy reading yesterday's coverage of his comments praising car maker Nissan for "its commitment to a low-carbon future in the UK...".
Shame he also supports BAA and its commitment to a no-homes future in the village of Sipson!
Co-op Travel reinforces its opposition to Heathrow's third runway
Date : Thursday 9th April 2009
While some companies claim to care about the environment yet support a third runway, Co-op Travel has reinforced its opposition to the proposed development.
The company first announced its opposition in July 2008, now its Managing Director, Mike Greenacre, has made a further statement following the government's decision to give the go-ahead for the runway.
"The increase in the number of flights...is completely at odds with the target to reduce UK's emissions by 80% by 2050.
Furthermore, the proposal that emissions from aviation fall to below 2005 levels by 2050 is so woolly and so distant as to make it laughable. In a similarly absurd fashion, Geoff Hoon has also suggested that the take up of electric cars in the UK could offset the additional emissions for the expansion of Heathrow."
Mr Greenacre also expressed scepticism about the enforcement of environmental targets and the consequences of increasing the number of flights.
"As a travel professional I welcome developments and evolution within the travel industry. I just hope that we don't regret this decision for generations to come."