No Third Runway

Climate campaigners claim Heathrow victory

The climate change campaigners conga dancing their way around Heathrow airport this week clearly had something to celebrate. No, not the third day of BA strikes. But a high court ruling that government plans for a third runway at Heathrow had not been properly thought through.

Residents of Sipson - the village threatened with the bulldozers if the plans were to go ahead - were down the pub toasting the victory while the Whitehall big-wigs were sent back to the drawing board.

For residents of West London, in particular, the plans for Heathrow's expansion - and the creation of a dreaded third runway - are always a point of interest. And this latest set-back is a welcome spanner in the works for anyone living under the flight path.

Outspoken feminist Germaine Greer gave the subject short shrift on the radio, pointing out that there's an unhealthy bias towards the West. Her valid argument was along the lines of… what with the Olympics and the financial centre of the City bringing the London's epicentre eastwards, why do we insist on making the West of London the hub of our international travel? To please the people of Hampshire?

After 30 years of protest it's good to know that the climate change protest camp hasn't been a waste of time. And sometimes the government can't just ride roughshod over the little people (who elect them).

Heathrow must be a hive of activity what with the conga dancing climate campaigners and the striking BA cabin crew setting up four picket lines.

The British Airways strike is a well timed walkout - with flights from Heathrow's shiny new Terminal 5 down by around a quarter. The whole thing has turned into a political hot potato too and Gordon Brown has come under fire for his handling of the situation - as you'd expect with little more than a month to go until the general election.

Gordon is under attack from both sides - which is always quite fun - with the trade unionists (who, don't forget, give generously to the Labour coffers) unimpressed by lack of support, and the Conservatives getting in on the action with two-a-penny accusations of weakness.

No doubt the third runway debate will continue but for now, at least, environmental campaigners can enjoy the sweet taste of victory.

Greenwich Gets Go-Ahead for 2012

Greenwich Royal Park will host the equestrian events at the London 2012 Olympics, despite opposition from some local residents. Opponents fear that the Olympic plans would interfere with the habitat of bats and potentially damage trees in the park, including some sweet chestnut trees which were up to 300 years old. Lord Coe urged Greenwich residents to "trust us that we will protect the park and return it to the condition that we received it".

X-ray Vision Risky Business

A Heathrow Airport security guard at Terminal 5 was given a police warning after he was allegedly caught staring at images of a female colleague in a body scanner. The 25-year-old worker was quizzed by police over alleged remarks he made to his co-worker after she entered an X-ray machine by mistake. The new scanners show clear outlines of passengers' anatomies.

Gypsy Sites Cut by Boris

Spare a thought for gypsy travellers who are "horrified" by a U-turn by Mayor Boris Johnson halving the number of gypsy sites in London. Having proposed doubling the pitches from 538 to 1,062 now the plan is to cut the current 538 to 238. This presents a "more realistic" target according to London Councils, an umbrella organisation for the 33 boroughs, who were concerned buying up land for the additional sites would interfere with meeting affordable housing needs. This comes just three years after gypsies lost a High Court battle to be relocated to an alternative site following their evicted from the Clays Lane Travellers' site to make way for the 2012 Olympics - a site families had lived on for almost 40 years.

Previouse article

 

Next article