four arrested as campaigners get airside the AA grumpy column
Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:03 pm
helo its grumpy time again.
the layabout student eco warriors are in the news after barracading themselves in at stansted.
Four people were arrested today after at least 50 climate change activists broke in to a secure area of Stansted Airport, police said.
The protest began at 3.15am when more than 50 campaigners occupied a runway that had been closed for maintenance work, according to Plane Stupid, which organised the demonstration.
An Essex police spokeswoman said: "About 50 protesters have gained access to Stansted Airport and they are airside.
"We have arrested four people so far. Police have contained the area where the protesters are and they will be dealing with them in due course."
A spokeswoman for Plane Stupid said the activists were chained together on the runway and had created "a fort" by surrounding themselves with security fencing.
She said they planned to keep up the blockade for as long as possible to prevent the runway reopening as scheduled at 5am.
Stanstead Airport protesters
In a statement, Plane Stupid said the disruption to flights will prevent "the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere".
One of the activists, Lily Kember, 21, said they had used bolt cutters to get in to a secure area around 50 metres from the runway.
"It's a bit cold, but everyone is in good spirits," she said.
The protest is over the Government's decision to allow the expansion of Stansted Airport with a second runway.
Plane Stupid said aviation was the fastest growing source of emissions and already contributed to at least 13% of the UK's carbon budget.
It also pointed to plans for a new runway at Heathrow.
Last month, another organisation, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE), launched a High Court appeal against the decision.
SSE said the Government was disregarding the climate change and noise impacts of the expansion at the Essex airport.
Ms Kember said a total of 54 protesters were sitting down on a site near where aeroplanes taxi before taking off and landing.
"Being arrested is a terrifying prospect, but not nearly as terrifying as the threat of climate change," she said.
BAA, operator of Stansted Airport, said the runway was closed for "safety and security reasons" and warned passengers to expect delays.
In a statement, BAA said: "At approximately 3am an unknown number of individuals breached security, but shortly afterwards were held by police. This continues to be the situation.
"Due to this event the runway is closed and will continue to be so until further notice. the advice to passengers is to contact their airlines directly who can advise them but we are expecting delays."
The Society of British Aerospace Companies criticised the action.
Spokesman Matthew Knowles said: "These protestors are ignoring the reality around aviation and climate change.
"Flight numbers have increased at Stansted but noise nuisance around the airport has actually decreased and aircraft are 70% more fuel efficient than they were 50 years ago.
"The industry has also set itself targets for a further 50% cut in noise and CO2 emissions from 2000 levels in new aircraft by 2050.
"It is time these ill-informed protests stopped."
AAG
so the great unwashed think they can stop the planes by blocking the runway eh?
no doubt the police will ask the protesters to come peacefully in a attempt to defuse the situation.
what they should do is send in the riot police tear gas and all and drag these scruffy layabout student individuals off to the nick any trouble met with batons and riot shields.
once in custody charge the lot with endangering air craft and breach of airport security and perhaps a few months in jail will give them something to think about.
if these unwashed scruffs can get to the runway this is a serious breach of security and they should be dealt with severley as this was not intended to be a peacefull protest and could to all intents and purposes be dealt with as an act of terrorism .
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -20955057/
the layabout student eco warriors are in the news after barracading themselves in at stansted.
Four people were arrested today after at least 50 climate change activists broke in to a secure area of Stansted Airport, police said.
The protest began at 3.15am when more than 50 campaigners occupied a runway that had been closed for maintenance work, according to Plane Stupid, which organised the demonstration.
An Essex police spokeswoman said: "About 50 protesters have gained access to Stansted Airport and they are airside.
"We have arrested four people so far. Police have contained the area where the protesters are and they will be dealing with them in due course."
A spokeswoman for Plane Stupid said the activists were chained together on the runway and had created "a fort" by surrounding themselves with security fencing.
She said they planned to keep up the blockade for as long as possible to prevent the runway reopening as scheduled at 5am.
Stanstead Airport protesters
In a statement, Plane Stupid said the disruption to flights will prevent "the release of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere".
One of the activists, Lily Kember, 21, said they had used bolt cutters to get in to a secure area around 50 metres from the runway.
"It's a bit cold, but everyone is in good spirits," she said.
The protest is over the Government's decision to allow the expansion of Stansted Airport with a second runway.
Plane Stupid said aviation was the fastest growing source of emissions and already contributed to at least 13% of the UK's carbon budget.
It also pointed to plans for a new runway at Heathrow.
Last month, another organisation, Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE), launched a High Court appeal against the decision.
SSE said the Government was disregarding the climate change and noise impacts of the expansion at the Essex airport.
Ms Kember said a total of 54 protesters were sitting down on a site near where aeroplanes taxi before taking off and landing.
"Being arrested is a terrifying prospect, but not nearly as terrifying as the threat of climate change," she said.
BAA, operator of Stansted Airport, said the runway was closed for "safety and security reasons" and warned passengers to expect delays.
In a statement, BAA said: "At approximately 3am an unknown number of individuals breached security, but shortly afterwards were held by police. This continues to be the situation.
"Due to this event the runway is closed and will continue to be so until further notice. the advice to passengers is to contact their airlines directly who can advise them but we are expecting delays."
The Society of British Aerospace Companies criticised the action.
Spokesman Matthew Knowles said: "These protestors are ignoring the reality around aviation and climate change.
"Flight numbers have increased at Stansted but noise nuisance around the airport has actually decreased and aircraft are 70% more fuel efficient than they were 50 years ago.
"The industry has also set itself targets for a further 50% cut in noise and CO2 emissions from 2000 levels in new aircraft by 2050.
"It is time these ill-informed protests stopped."
AAG
so the great unwashed think they can stop the planes by blocking the runway eh?
no doubt the police will ask the protesters to come peacefully in a attempt to defuse the situation.
what they should do is send in the riot police tear gas and all and drag these scruffy layabout student individuals off to the nick any trouble met with batons and riot shields.
once in custody charge the lot with endangering air craft and breach of airport security and perhaps a few months in jail will give them something to think about.
if these unwashed scruffs can get to the runway this is a serious breach of security and they should be dealt with severley as this was not intended to be a peacefull protest and could to all intents and purposes be dealt with as an act of terrorism .
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-storie ... -20955057/