7.30am - Environmental activists this morning blockaded the Heathrow Headquarters of BAA (1), preventing employees from entering the building. The action was to mark the 60th birthday of Heathrow airport which falls this month. (2)

The action by campaign group, Plane Stupid, (3) was in support of local people whose homes will be demolished if a third runway gets the go ahead. A small team of protestors used piping and chains to lock themselves across the main entrance to the company’s offices, and have unfurled a banner reading, “No to airport expansion.”

A Plane Stupid spokesman explained, “Since Heathrow is now 60, it’s time BAA took a health check – or better, early retirement. Emissions continue to rise with aviation now the fastest growing cause of climate change and, like a cancer, Heathrow is swallowing up villages like Sipson – wiping established communities off the map.”

He added, “In 60 years, Heathrow has grown from being a small local airport into a climate change factory. BAA’s plan to expand the airport further puts them in the premier league of climate change criminals. BAA can be assured; today’s action is just the start of our direct action campaign to stop airport expansion.”

Last year 475,000 planes used Heathrow airport, with a plane landing at or taking off from the airport every 45 seconds throughout the day. If plans go ahead to make more use of the existing runways and build a third runway, flight numbers could exceed 700,000 according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

Air pollution levels are already above the recommended levels and, according to a report published last month, would exceed the EU legal limits were a third runway to be built. (4)

In 1980, the government approved Terminal 4 on the understanding that there would be a cap of 260,000 plans using the airport each year and it would be the last development at Heathrow. In 2001, Terminal 5 was given the go-ahead on the condition that flight numbers at the airport did not exceed 480,000 a year. Within two years, the government proposed a third runway which the government estimates will lead to at least 655,000 flights per year.

In 1995, as BAA sought permission for a 5th Terminal, they ruled out a third runway, writing in its company newspaper, Heathrow News, “BAA has said repeatedly, “There will be no third runway.””(5)

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN Clearskies, (6) said, “The story of Heathrow is one of deception from day one. The only difference is that these days BAA does it with more style and spin. They constantly try to re-assure their ‘stakeholders’ that they have their best interests at heart whilst all the time plotting further expansion.”

Notes to Editors:
(1) BAA’s offices are at Heathrow Point, 234 Bath Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 5AP

(2) The first plane – a British South American Airways Lancastrian – used the airport in April 1946

(3) Plane Stupid is a direct action campaign group of local residents and experienced environmental activists. For more information: www.planestupid.com

(4) ‘Emissions Impossible’ produced by the ‘Aviation Environment Foundation’ was published last month by Project Heathrow Watch. (A groups of MPs, local authorities and community groups.) It found that it would be impossible for Heathrow to keep within EU legal limits, due to come into force in 2010, if a third runway were built.

(5) In February 1995, BAA’s own newspaper, Heathrow News, reported, “BAA has said repeatedly that it was pressing for the Secretary of State for Transport to rule out a third runway. BAA has said repeatedly there will not be a third runway.”

(6) Hacan Clearskies is a lobby group representing residents under the Heathrow flight paths. For more information: www.hacan.org.uk

Update at 10am:

Six arrests have been made for aggravated trespass. Activists being held at Uxbridge Police Station.