Heathrow wins protest injunction

Heathrow operator BAA has won its High Court bid for an injunction to protecting the airport from unlawful direct action during an environmental protest this month.

High Court judge Mrs Justice Swift said the only way to prevent potentially "serious and damaging" consequences of any unlawful direct action was to grant the injunction.

She said: "I am satisfied that the terms of this injunction are no wider than necessary to provide proper and effective protection to the claimants."

The order was nothing like as wide-ranging as originally sought and should not affect the peaceful and lawful activities of those taking part in the protest.

Organisers of the camp said thousands of people would gather near Heathrow later this month for eight days of education, sustainable living and direct action against the "root causes" of climate change.

Last year's Camp for Climate Action was held in the shadow of Drax power station in Yorkshire.

BAA denied it was seeking to stop five million people using roads and public transport near the west London airport saying the injunction was only aimed at "protesters" who were acting unlawfully.

The company said legal action over the Camp for Climate Action, planned for August 14 to 21, was to protect the airport and the safety of passengers and staff "against the planned direct action by environmental activists".

One of those at whom the injunction was aimed was John Stewart, chairman of Heathrow airport anti-noise group Hacan and also chairman of the umbrella body AirportWatch.

He said after the verdict: "BAA had asked for the mother of all injunctions. They have received the mother of all setbacks."

Protesters claim BAA resorted to "legal bullying" by trying to extend the ban to people using roads and public transport near, and in some cases far from, the airport.

But, it is understood that the injunction will not prevent members of most of the protest groups involved using roads and public transport in the vicinity of Heathrow.

Outside the court, a BAA spokesman said the company had "no option" but to take legal action. He added that with persistent terrorist threats, "keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business".

To cause disruption at the airport was "irresponsible and unlawful".

Nicholas Blake QC, representing various defendants, has described the injunction application as an "exercise in confusion and futility".

BAA's solicitor Tim Lawson-Cruttenden said the injunction concerned four named defendants - Joss Garman, Leo Murray, Mr Stewart and Geraldine Nicholson - and any members of Plane Stupid, Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise, Airportwatch and No Third Runway Action Group, who acted unlawfully.

He stressed: "We are only injuncting those who wish to act unlawfully and there is nothing to stop anyone from coming to the airport if they wish to act lawfully."

BAA is also seeking to "facilitate lawful protest" on its land, he said, and had designated three protest areas to ensure that those attending the camp could do so without infringing its by-laws.

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