Archived press release

Heathrow ban court hearing

31 July 2007

The hearing is scheduled for 10.30am at the Courts of Justice in the Strand. The case is scheduled to last for the day and is billed as Heathrow Airport Limited versus Garman.

Heathrow Airport is going to court on Wednesday 1 August in an attempt to ban environmental campaigners from the airport, parts of the rail network and sections of the M25 and M4 motorways. The ban aims to shut down a planned peaceful protest against the expansion of Heathrow airport from 14-21 August 2007.

Heathrow Airport Ltd (part of BAA) has applied for an incredibly broad injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act, which aims to ban members and supporters of the umbrella organisation AirportWatch from setting foot on named locations in and around London if they are intending to take part in the Climate Camp protest. AirportWatch is a coalition of groups including Friends of the Earth, the National Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Woodland Trust.

Friends of the Earth's Rights & Justice Centre is acting for John Stewart, Chair HACAN and Chair of AirportWatch, and Geraldine Nicholson, Chair of NOTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) [1].

It is an important legal case because of the effect that it could have on legitimate protest in relation to aviation and climate change.

There are a number of possible outcomes of the case:

• BAA may withdraw applications for injunctions against certain groups and/or individuals;
• The judge may give BAA everything they are asking for (probably unlikely);
• The judge may throw out the case altogether;
• The judge may grant some parts of the injunction and not others.

Friends of the Earth's Lawyer, Gita Parihar said:

"This is an unnecessary and unworkable request by Heathrow Airport and we are confident it will be thrown out of court. We believe people have the right to protest peacefully about issues which concern them such as climate change.

The aviation industry should focus its efforts on tackling climate emissions. The Government should take a lead by shelving plans for air port expansion across the UK and by introducing a strong climate change law which includes aviation."

Friends of the Earth's Rights & Justice Centre will also be providing legal observers at the camp, though we are not involved with organizing the camp.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to:

• Include emissions from international shipping and aviation in the Governments draft Climate Change Bill
• Stop the expansion of all UK airports including a halt to a third runway at Heathrow
• Ensure the aviation industry pays for the environmental damage it causes

Notes

[1] BAA is seeking injunctions against: John Stewart, Chair HACAN and Chair of AirportWatch and both these organisations and all their members; Geraldine Nicholson, Chair NOTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) and all members of NOTRAG; Joss Garman and Leo Murray of Plane Stupid, and all members of Plane Stupid. Other defendants are represented by Harrison Grant Solicitors.

Friends of the Earth's Rights and Justice Centre aims to help members of the public raise awareness and understanding of the use of the law to protect the environment. Its legal advice line can be contacted on FREEPHONE 0808 801 0405 between 6.30 - 8.30pm every Wednesday evening or by email legal@foe.co.uk at any time. Individuals who contact the advice line will be given preliminary advice by Friends of the Earth legal staff and volunteer lawyers. Cases will then be either taken up by the Rights and Justice Centre or passed onto an organisation that can help.

Friends of the Earth fully supports the right of people to protest peacefully.

For more information on AirportWatch's supporters see www.airportwatch.org.uk/campaigncommunity.php

Camp for Climate Action is aimed at government expansion plans and the aviation industry.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust