Huge rally against Heathrow 3rd runway demonstrates intense cross-party opposition in London
Date added: 11 October, 2015
A huge rally against a 3rd Heathrow runway, attended by one to two thousand activists who are determined not to let it ever be built, They heard impassioned speeches from all the main London mayoral candidates, who reiterated the extent of the environmental impacts – noise and air pollution in particular. The rally sent a clear message to government that a runway is deeply opposed, and would be fought strenuously. The repeated chant at the rally was: “No ifs, no buts. No 3rd runway.” Zac said: “We know that our air pollution problems in London would be unsolvable if we expand Heathrow. And we know it requires the demolition of more than 1,000 homes. It is a catastrophic price to pay. I think we have won the arguments, I think we are winning the campaign. The environmental case against a third runway is devastating and makes expansion both legally and morally impossible. The economic case has completely disintegrated.” Sadiq said: “It would be madness to build a new runway. People who care about London and the health of London, who worry about the noise, who worry about the infrastructure, are united against it.” John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor and Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, said: “In my constituency at the moment, people are literally dying. They’re dying because the air has already been poisoned by the aviation industry.” . Tweet
Part of the crowd in Parliament Square. Groups who came along in force included Teddington Action Group, CHATR in Chiswick, Stop Heathrow Expansion, HACAN, CAIAN, Richmond Heathrow Campaign, Friends of the Earth groups, Greenpeace, Plane Stupid and AEF – to name just some
Hacan’s Rob Barnstone wearing the hat
We have a right to breathe clean air
Noise and air pollution are a real concern for parents (and children) living in areas affected by Heathrow
Teddington Action Group placard
Mrs Taylor, (84) with daughter and grand-daughter, who all live in the Heathrow villages threatened with eviction for a 3rd runway
Adam Afriye, Sadiq Khan, Maderline Taylor, Gita Parihar, Caroline Pidgeon,
All the speakers on stage at the end of the rally
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Heathrow protest: Mayoral candidates join forces to back ‘largest ever’ protest against airport expansion
Hundreds of people were today demonstrating against the expansion of Heathrow airport as London’s mayoral candidates set differences aside to back the campaign.
Activists angry about aircraft noise and the environmental impact were staging the largest ever protest against plans for a third runway in Parliament Square this morning.
They were joined by London mayoral frontrunners Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan, along with Lib Dem candidate Caroline Pidgeon and Green Party contender Sian Berry, who all addressed the crowd to lend their support.
Speaking before the march, John Stewart, chairman of Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN), said: “Thousands are expected to send a clear message to the prime minister that they will fight any decision to give the green light to a new runway at Heathrow.
“And the message from all the key mayoral candidates is equally clear. They stand united on this issue. They are all firmly against a third runway.”
It comes a few weeks before the government is expected to make a decision on whether an extra runway will be built at Heathrow or Gatwick.
John Stewart, Chair HACAN (to welcome and introduce)
John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington
Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond & North Kingston (and Conservative Mayoral candidate)
Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting (and Labour Mayoral candidate)
Sian Berry, Green Party Mayoral Candidate
Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate
Peter Whittle, UKIP Mayoral candidate
John Sauven, Chief executive of Greenpeace
Gita Parihar, Head of legal at Friends of the Earth
Tania Mathias, Conservative MP for Twickenham
Daniel Moylan, Transport for London Board Member
A long-standing resident from the Heathrow villages, Mrs Taylor,who faces losing her home
At London rally, John McDonnell hits out at “lying” aviation officials over Heathrow claims
October 11, 2015
At the huge anti-Heathrow 3rd runway rally, Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell lashed out at ‘lying’ aviation officials, saying ‘poisoned’ air is killing residents in the area. He said the aviation industry has ‘consistently lied’about expanding the UK’s largest airport. He said if it would be ‘down to people power’ to prevent the 3rd runway being built, if the expansion is backed by Parliament and court appeals against the decision fail. “I will welcome back to my constituency, climate camp and all those demonstrators that will take action to prevent this runway being built.”… He said in his Hayes & Harlington constituency, next door to Heathrow: “… at the moment, people are literally dying. They’re dying because the air has already been poisoned by the aviation industry. …They’ve promised us after every inquiry, no further expansion. They are liars. They have consistently lied to us. They now tell us if they get a 3rd runway, there’ll be no increase in noise and no increase in pollution. They lie every time to us.” He said up to 4,000 homes would be demolished, or rendered unliveable in his constituency. Both main mayoral candidates, Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan, also addressed the rally, and spoke about the seriousness of the risk to ever worse air quality – with its health implications.
Mayoral candidates join third Heathrow runway protest
10.10.2015 (BBC)
(extract)
Rival mayoral candidates have united to condemn plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
They addressed a protest in Parliament Square, central London, attended by more than 1,000 people.
Conservative contender for City Hall, Zac Goldsmith, warned it would be “catastrophic”. Labour’s Sadiq Khan called it “madness”.
A Heathrow spokesman said a third runway was needed to keep London “at the heart of the global economy”.
Mr Goldsmith told the crowd: “We know that our air pollution problems in London would be unsolvable if we expand Heathrow. And we know it requires the demolition of more than 1,000 homes. It is a catastrophic price to pay.”
Mr Khan told BBC London: “It would be madness to build a new runway. People who care about London and the health of London, who worry about the noise, who worry about the infrastructure, are united against it.”
Green candidate Sian Berry, Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon and UKIP’s Peter Whittle all gave speeches against the proposed expansion, joined by environmental campaigners and local residents.
‘People are dying’
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor and Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, also addressed the crowd. He said: “In my constituency at the moment, people are literally dying. They’re dying because the air has already been poisoned by the aviation industry.”
A Heathrow spokesman responded: “London’s future success as a global city, and as a centre for finance and investment, will depend on the strength of links with existing and new markets.
“The Airports Commission has confirmed that Heathrow expansion will keep the capital and the whole of the UK at the heart of the global economy, meet environmental targets and balance the needs of local communities.”
Thousands attend protest against plans for third runway at London airport Heathrow
10.10.2015 (IBT)
Thousands of protestors have joined all five London Mayoral candidates, MPs and national organisations in Parliament Square, London, today for the largest ever rally against a third runway at Heathrow today, 10 October. The campaigners were part of a rally organised by the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN).
Cabinet members are debating plans for a third runway after the Airports Commission’s recommendation that Heathrow, rather than Gatwick, would be a better site to match rising demand for flights to and from the Capital. Campaigners believe that a new third runway will cause intolerable noise, breach EU limits on air pollution, cost millions in road improvements, and force thousands to move from their homes.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN galvanised supporters under the hashtag #no3rdRunway today on social media. He said outside Parliament Square: “it’s a really great event, with a great turnout, Parliament Square is absolutely full, people have got their signs all over the place, people have come from all over London and beyond to send a very, very strong message to the prime minister.
“This is very much a cross-party objection to a third runway at Heathrow. I firmly believe we are going to win. It’s too politically difficult to build a third runway at Heathrow”
Yesterday the Environmental Audit Committee said it would hear evidence on implications for noise, carbon emissions and air quality if the airport is allowed to expand. And the owners of Gatwick airport have continued to make the case for a second runway there instead.
MP for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith, described Mr Stewart as a “hero”. He said: “We have people from every political party, Ukip, the Greens, Lib Dems, Labour, Conservative all the mayoral candidates – it’s a real united front.
“I think we have won the arguments, I think we are winning the campaign. It’s a magnificent turnout.”
The Tory candidate for mayor added: “The environmental case against a third runway is devastating and makes expansion both legally and morally impossible. The economic case has completely disintegrated and I am confident that the Government will make the right decision.”
Goldsmith joined other Mayoral candidates Sadiq Khan, of Labour, Sian Berry of the Green Party, Caroline Pidgeon, of the Lib Dems and Peter Whittle of UKIP. John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington, Tania Mathias, Conservative MP for Twickenham also joined John Sauven, chief executive of Greenpeace, and Gita Parihar, head of legal at Friends of the Earth at the event.
