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| Heathrow protests at growth plan | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Opponents of a the construction of a third runway at Heathrow have staged a protest at the airport ahead of a government announcement on the project. | |
| Crowds of campaigners, some in Edwardian costume, sat down to enjoy a picnic in the airport's Terminal One. | Crowds of campaigners, some in Edwardian costume, sat down to enjoy a picnic in the airport's Terminal One. |
| It comes as Gordon Brown, who is expected to agree the plans, says he will meet Labour MPs against expansion. | |
| Unions and business leaders have joined the airline industry in urging the government to approve the construction. | |
| The Future Heathrow Group warned in newspaper adverts "Heathrow's status as a global hub is at stake". The union Unite says 172,000 jobs may be at risk. | |
| 'Gateway to world' | 'Gateway to world' |
| The Future Heathrow Group's adverts say the expansion is vital for the British economy's long-term competiveness. | The Future Heathrow Group's adverts say the expansion is vital for the British economy's long-term competiveness. |
| Heathrow's modernisation is the only way to reduce aircraft emissions and cut disruption Derek Simpson, Unite | Heathrow's modernisation is the only way to reduce aircraft emissions and cut disruption Derek Simpson, Unite |
| It argues other major European airports have already expanded and are ready to take advantage when the market starts to recover. | It argues other major European airports have already expanded and are ready to take advantage when the market starts to recover. |
| CBI director-general Richard Lambert said: "Heathrow is our gateway to the world and we need to ensure that it remains a world-class airport capable of serving the needs of a global economy." | CBI director-general Richard Lambert said: "Heathrow is our gateway to the world and we need to ensure that it remains a world-class airport capable of serving the needs of a global economy." |
| Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of business group London First, said: "Business needs to fly and will do so long after the current economic turmoil." | Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of business group London First, said: "Business needs to fly and will do so long after the current economic turmoil." |
| The union Unite said Heathrow's modernisation would not only safeguard jobs but create an additional 50,000 in construction and services. | The union Unite said Heathrow's modernisation would not only safeguard jobs but create an additional 50,000 in construction and services. |
| Joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "We sincerely believe that Heathrow's modernisation is the only way to reduce aircraft emissions and cut disruption." | Joint general secretary Derek Simpson said: "We sincerely believe that Heathrow's modernisation is the only way to reduce aircraft emissions and cut disruption." |
| If the government pushes ahead with their disastrous plans they are going to be met with peaceful but determined public protests Climate Rush | If the government pushes ahead with their disastrous plans they are going to be met with peaceful but determined public protests Climate Rush |
| Airport operator BAA says it needs to build a new runway to meet passenger demand. | Airport operator BAA says it needs to build a new runway to meet passenger demand. |
| But the Institute of Public Policy Research think-tank said conditions for meeting noise and emissions targets must be attached to any approval of the third runway. | But the Institute of Public Policy Research think-tank said conditions for meeting noise and emissions targets must be attached to any approval of the third runway. |
| Opponents, including residents living near the airport and environmentalists, are continuing to fight the expansion plans. | Opponents, including residents living near the airport and environmentalists, are continuing to fight the expansion plans. |
| "This is our last chance to tell our government that they are making a big mistake," said a spokesman for Climate Rush, some of whose members dressed as suffragettes for protests at Heathrow and Manchester airports. | "This is our last chance to tell our government that they are making a big mistake," said a spokesman for Climate Rush, some of whose members dressed as suffragettes for protests at Heathrow and Manchester airports. |
| "If the government pushes ahead with their disastrous plans they are going to be met with peaceful but determined public protests on an unprecedented level." | "If the government pushes ahead with their disastrous plans they are going to be met with peaceful but determined public protests on an unprecedented level." |
| About 50 people took part in the protest at Manchester Airport's Terminal 3. | |
| Vanessa Hall, spokeswoman for the group Northern Climate Rush, said domestic flights between the city and London were "most unnecessary". | Vanessa Hall, spokeswoman for the group Northern Climate Rush, said domestic flights between the city and London were "most unnecessary". |
| Fight to go on | Fight to go on |
| At Heathrow, campaigner Dan Glass said of the protest's Edwardian theme: "It's all in the culture of the Suffragettes. | |
| "We are trying to emulate what our ancestors did for us to make a positive change, in a civilised fashion, for future generations." | |
| Marina Pepper, from Climate Rush, said: "We have the economy going off the cliff and we also have the genuine threat that climate change presents. | |
| "This is no time for business as usual. If ever there was a time to take action, that time is now." | |
| Some protesters have vowed to continue their fight even if it does get the go-ahead. | Some protesters have vowed to continue their fight even if it does get the go-ahead. |
| The Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) and No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG) said they would consult their lawyers and mount a legal challenge. | The Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN) and No Third Runway Action Group (NoTRAG) said they would consult their lawyers and mount a legal challenge. |
| BA chief executive Willie Walsh: 'We can meet the environmental restrictions' | |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson said he expected a legal challenge and other objections would prove "insurmountable" for the project, which the Conservatives oppose. | London Mayor Boris Johnson said he expected a legal challenge and other objections would prove "insurmountable" for the project, which the Conservatives oppose. |
| More than 50 Labour MPs are opposed to the proposal and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has voiced reservations about any development's environmental impact. | More than 50 Labour MPs are opposed to the proposal and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has voiced reservations about any development's environmental impact. |
| But at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Gordon Brown said he would meet those sceptical about the development again. | But at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Gordon Brown said he would meet those sceptical about the development again. |
| Mr Brown told the meeting there was an inten | |
| environmental obligations when it came to big infrastructural projects. |