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Thousands join Heathrow protest | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Thousands of campaigners opposed to a third runway at Heathrow have arrived for a protest rally outside the west London airport. | |
An estimated 3,000 protesters marched from Hatton Cross to Sipson, many gathering in a field to spell out the word "No". | |
Campaigners say the planned expansion would have a serious impact on hundreds of thousands of homes in the area. | |
But business groups and airlines claim the third runway is essential. | But business groups and airlines claim the third runway is essential. |
MPs, local council leaders and environmentalists addressed the rally. | |
Speakers included London's deputy mayor Richard Barnes. | |
Village destroyed | Village destroyed |
"I've represented Hillingdon for 20 years and this is not the first time I've fought Heathrow airport expansion," he said. | |
"They keep lying to us but this time we will win because we have cross-party support." | |
Economic expansion and growth is all very well for those making the money but the damage it's doing to the planet is not acceptable Lewis Jones, protester | |
In November last year the government set out proposals for a major expansion at Heathrow, which could see the building of a third runway and a sixth terminal. | |
The new runway would be 2,200m (about 7,200ft) long and could be in operation by 2020 if it got the go-ahead. | The new runway would be 2,200m (about 7,200ft) long and could be in operation by 2020 if it got the go-ahead. |
The government has said it would meet noise and air quality targets, but the entire village of Sipson with about 700 homes would be destroyed. | The government has said it would meet noise and air quality targets, but the entire village of Sipson with about 700 homes would be destroyed. |
Protesters spoke of the reasons why they were demonstrating. | |
Martin Newell, 40, from Hackney said: "I'm a Catholic priest and God created this world. To destroy it is blasphemy." | Martin Newell, 40, from Hackney said: "I'm a Catholic priest and God created this world. To destroy it is blasphemy." |
Support jobs | Support jobs |
Lewis Jones, 21, from Roehampton said: "I'm here just because the public need to know. | |
"Economic expansion and growth is all very well for those making the money but the damage it's doing to the planet is not acceptable. This is building momentum." | |
But Lord Soley, campaign director of pro-expansion group Future Heathrow, said opinion polls showed local people were in favour of expansion. | But Lord Soley, campaign director of pro-expansion group Future Heathrow, said opinion polls showed local people were in favour of expansion. |
"Local people know that the airport is vital to the local economy and supports jobs and business," he said. | "Local people know that the airport is vital to the local economy and supports jobs and business," he said. |
"A third runway will only go ahead within environmental limits on noise and air quality." | "A third runway will only go ahead within environmental limits on noise and air quality." |
The public consultation period over the proposals ended on 27 February, and final policy decisions are expected to be taken some time next year. | The public consultation period over the proposals ended on 27 February, and final policy decisions are expected to be taken some time next year. |