News

Titles

• London elections important for environment
• Heathrow campaign: Press complaints; TV programme; Another big event
• Heathrow consultation finishes - next phase starts
• Heathrow consultation ends soon!
• Heathrow Crash Vindicates Friends of the Earth Safety Campaign
• Heathrow 3rd runway consultation
• 'Anaerobic digester' proposed for West London
• Climate camp attracts massive publicity
• BAA tries to stifle protest with injunction - and fails
• Climate camp near Heathrow
• Aviation campaign hots up
• Councillors win in court - we lose
• Councillors go to court to incinerate
• Carbon reduction group started
• 2006 hottest ever year
• Sleepwalking towards incineration?
• British Airways unreformed ..
while Heathrow's climate cost revealed
• Climate change bill announced
• Ken Livingtone gets it right, twice
• July hottest month ever in Britain
• Dodgy professor lobbies for Runway 3
• Victory or confidence trick on night flights ?
• Budget finances Heathrow destruction
• Climate campaign takes off
• Wiltshire to help poison our air?
• Stricken jumbo allowed to fly over West London
• Archive - Earlier Stories

See below for these stories and links to further information.

The Mayoral and GLA elections took place on 1st May. There were big differences between the candidates on issues which affect air pollution and climate change. See pre-election article.

Boris Johnson for the Conservatives was elected. This gives rise to grave concerns about London's air pollution and it's committmment to tackle climate change, as can be seen from our pre-election article.

Read more

Terminal 5 opened to the public on 27 March 08. See FOE press release.

The Evening Standard, which is often less than sympathetic to environmental causes, claimed that people at the Climate Camp in Aug 07 has plotted to disrupt Heathrow by leaving hoax packages. No truth was found in the claim – see Press Complaints Commission ruling (go to 'cases' / 'adjudication').

West London FOE has also complained to the Press Complaints Commission about a piece in the Times, where it was claimed that a poll was carried out about Heathrow expansion, but the result was not published. In fact, the result was press released and was reported, at least on London radio. We await the ruling. Ben Webster of the Times has generally given excellent and sympathetic coverage of aviation stories, but the author of this piece, David Aaronovitch, is clearly not on our side.

A half hour programme about Sipson, “the village that fought back” was shown on ITV on 23rd Mar 08.

Another big Heathrow event is planned for 31st May. Keep an eye out for information.

(Mar 08)

Heathrow campaign: T5 opens, Press complaints; TV programme; Another big event

Terminal 5 opened to the public on 27 March 08. See FOE press release.

The Evening Standard, which is often less than sympathetic to environmental causes, claimed that people at the Climate Camp in Aug 07 has plotted to disrupt Heathrow by leaving hoax packages. No truth was found in the claim – see Press Complaints Commission ruling (go to 'cases' / 'adjudication').

West London FOE has also complained to the Press Complaints Commission about a piece in the Times, where it was claimed that a poll was carried out about Heathrow expansion, but the result was not published. In fact, the result was press released and was reported, at least on London radio. We await the ruling. Ben Webster of the Times has generally given excellent and sympathetic coverage of aviation stories, but the author of this piece, David Aaronovitch, is clearly not on our side.

A half hour programme about Sipson, “the village that fought back” was shown on ITV on 23rd Mar 08.

Another big Heathrow event is planned for 31st May. Keep an eye out for information.

(Mar 08)

Heathrow consultation finishes - next phase starts

The Government consultation into expansion at Heathrow finished on 27nd Feb 2008. But that is only the start of the lobbying and campaigning.

An 'in principle' decision is expected in the autumn. However, the actual decision will happen later and there could be a new government by then. That is why campaigning and lobbying now are now more important than ever.

See Heathrow expansion article with links to FOE briefings.

(Mar 08)

See Heathrow expansion article with links to FOE briefings.

(Feb 08)

Heathrow Crash Vindicates Friends of the Earth Safety Campaign

Friends of the Earth (FOE) has been highlighting the public danger of Heathrow expansion for 10 years. We have been saying that the government must take account of the ‘societal’ risk of a crash at Heathrow. But The government has ignored our call in its public consultation on plans to expand Heathrow Airport."

If the aviation industry, British Airways, BAA and the government continue to lobby for Heathrow expansion and Runway 3, it will show in the starkest possible terms how they put profits of the aviation industry above the safety of West London residents.

More information and comment (Word document).

(Jan 08)

Heathrow consultation starts

The Government started a 3 month public consultation on plans to expand Heathrow Airport on 23rd Nov 2007.

The government wants to build a third runway and a sixth terminal and to increase the number of planes on the existing runways. This would represent the biggest single airport expansion ever seen in the UK.

The government has been colluding with BAA to try and show that air pollution limits would not be broken. The government has ignored its own study which shows it had been persistantly under-stating the effect of noise. See AEF web site. This expansion would make a mockery of the government's target to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60% by 2050 (let alone the 80% that Gordon Brown has been talking about).

See short briefing on the consultation.

For information about the campaign and details of public meetings and consultation events, see the Stop Heathrow Expansion web site.

(Updated Dec 07)

Climate camp attracts massive publicity

The climate camp took place from 14th to 21st August near Heathrow. The camp was well reported in the media so there is no need to describe here how it went.

The key point about the camp is that it took place at Heathrow. The fact that Heathrow was selected as the location for this climate camp shows how aviation is now recognised as a major contributor to climate change. Heathrow is iconic in the fight against climate change. Aircraft coming in and leaving the airport contribute over a third of the UK's aviation emissions - some 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) every year.

The huge police presence was out of all proportion to any plausible threat of distruption at the airport. It shows how worried the government is about 'environmental activism', especially on the issue of climate change. Equally worryingly, the police beat up peaceful protesters. See eye-witness account.

(Aug 07)

BAA tries to stifle protest with injunction - and fails

BAA tried to scare and criminalise Friends of the Earth members and other people who are highlighting the issue of climate change and opposing Heathrow expansion. Don’t take our word for it – this is what The Independent said:

"Heathrow seek ridiculous injunction against potentially millions of people
The British Airport Authority (BAA), who owns Heathrow Airport, is to seek one of the biggest injunctions affecting peaceful protest in Britain's history. They hope to obtain it through the High Court next week [Wed 1st August] and is it set to affect millions of people. According to reports by the Independent, the injunction will ban members of the National Trust, the RSPB, the Woodland Trust and Friends of the Earth, from entering Britain's biggest airport. Other no-go zones include the Piccadilly line. And parts of Paddington station. And sections of the M4. And all this: 'because the authorities want to halt a protest against climate change'". More

However, this draconian injunction failed. All that surived was an injunction stopping 3 named people and those acting in concert with the direct action group Plane Stupid from actions on BAA land. The climate camp was never going to be on BAA land so it can go ahead as planned.

Having said this, the police won't mind because they already have draconion powers under the terrorism act. It was reported in the Guardian on 11/8/07 that they seized and seached a suspected protestor for cyling near Heathrow. After finding nothing and holding her for 30 hours, they trumpted up another charge. Apparently it is an offence to collect information which might be useful for a terrorist act. So anyone looking up a airline timetable or planespotting could be arrested!

For more information,see the climate camp page or contact your local FOE group.

(Updated Aug 07)

For more about the camp and the issues see climate camp page.

(Updated Aug 07)

Aviation campaign hots up

The issue of aviation is hotting up. There is more and more publicity in the press, more and more debate around the country, more actions and demonstrations. See examples.

Ordinary people, tired of being ignored, tired of having their time wasted with phoney consultations and frustrated by lack of options to use their vote effectively, are turning to other forms of action and are beginning to be heard.

Local MPs, Ann Keen certainly heard them! Andrew Slaughter and Karen Buck also heard how the public knows about aviation and climate change. And so everyone should - we have just had the hottest April on record.

(May 07)

Court finds in favour of incineration (April 07)

West London Waste Authority (WLWA) has won its court case against Mayor Ken Livingstone. He was trying to prevent WLWA incinerating their waste at Colnbrook. (This was not actually the case contested, but that is what it was really about.) The Mayor is planning to appeal.

This decision supports and endorses the incompetence and the contempt for the environment from Mike Nicholls, head of WLWA, his technical advisor, David Streeter and the councillors from the boroughs who supported the court action (at our expense). The sooner a London-wide waste authority takes over from WLWA, the better.

See press release for more information.

(April 07)

Councillors go to court to force through incineration

Weak and ineffective councillors have been manipulated by the head of West London Waste Authority, Mike Nicholls.

They have been talked into agreeing to go to court, against Mayor Ken Livingstone, to force through incineration of our waste.

Incineration is a waste or resources, it pollutes our air and creates vast quantities of greenhouse gases.

See press releases for more information.

(Updated Mar 07)

Carbon reduction group to be set up

A new group is being set up in west London, called a 'Carbon Reduction Action Group' (CRAG). A CRAG consists of some people who are prepared to collect a few figures about things such as their electricity consumpion and travel. These are converted to figures for carbon emissions, forming a basis for discussion, for education and for reducing emissions. More information.

(Jan 07)

2006 hottest year ever in Britain

The Met Office announced that it was the hottest year since records began in 1659. They cite the longest-running records series in the world, which are the 'Central England Records'.

As well as 2006 being the hottest year, July was the hottest ever month, September was the hottest ever September and we had the hottest ever autumn. For more information see Met Office press release.

A West London FOE spokeperson commented: "Yet more records and yet more evidence of climate change. How much more evidence do we need before the government starts to address seriously the issue of climate change? Yet only on 8 Jan, we heard Tony Blair saying we shouldn't try to do anything to constrain growth in the two fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases, car traffic and aviation."

(Jan 07)

Sleepwalking towards incineration?

After all the studies and all the brave talk about doing the right thing with our waste - recycling etc - councillors may be 'sleepwalking' towards the wrong thing - incineration.

They are being led by the siren voice of Mike Nicholls, director of 'West Waste'. See letters highlighting the issue.

(Dec 06)

British Airways unreformed ..
while Heathrow's climate cost revealed

At a Royal Aeronautical Society Lecture on 13 Nov 06 BA's new Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, continued and enhanced BA's campaign of spin and misinformation.

This was just days after the Stern report (BBC site) warned about the huge economic cost of not addressing climate change.

See press release revealing Heathrow's cost of climate change of over £700 million pa.

(Nov 06)

Climate change bill announced

FOE’s campaign for a Climate Change Bill has been a stunning success. Over 400 MPs signed the ‘Early Day Motion’ (EDM), calling for a bill.

The announced in the Queen's speech that it will introduce a bill.

See which West London MPs voted for a bill and which did not.

For more information and onward links, see also climate bill story.

Ken Livingtone gets it right, twice

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone has got it right on two more of his policies.

Firstly, he wants to charge '4 by 4s' a much higher congestion charge of £25. Quite right too! These gas-guzzling monsters are an environmental disaster and are much more dangerous to pedestrians than normal cars. Also, they take up more road space and so cause more congestion. (More on 4x4s.)

Secondly, he opposes a desalination plant which would use brackish water to try and alleviate the water shortage. Right again! We do not need this expensive and energy-hungry plant. It will pour out greenhouse gases which, ironically, will add to climate change and thereby probably exacerbate the water shortage it is meant to cure. The correct answer is for Thames Water to sort out its appalling level of leaks and for all of us to stop using so much water. (More about Ken's opposition.)

(Sep 06)

July hottest month ever in Britain

The Met Office confirmed it was the hottest month since its records began in 1914, with an average temperature of 17.8 deg C. The previous records was 17.3 deg C in July 1983 and August 1995.

The Met Office does not use records before that date, but climate historian Philip Eden has records which show that it was the hottest July over central England for 347 years.

A West London FOE spokeperson commented: "Yet another record and yet more evidence of climate change. How much more evidence do we need before the government starts to address seriously the issue of climate change? So far the government is ignoring the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions - road traffic and aviation. Instead, it is using climate change as an excuse to build new nuclear power stations."

(Aug 06)

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This was based on misleading comments by a a dodgy professor employed by the Department of Transport. Being employed by the goverment on the controversial Heathrow air pollution study, Prof Ian Poll ought to be strictly impartial. He seems anything but. More information.

(July 06)

Partial victory on night flights

The government has decided to keep the limit on night flights at Heathrow for the next 'review period' which means for the next 6 years from now.

The government was keen to abolish the limit and only made this concession to prevent a revolt among backbenchers on the Civil Aviation Bill. This is something of a victory for campaigners, although not what they really want, which is the abolition of night flights.

The most controversial part of the bill was to remove the need for any limit on the number of night fights and instead rely just on a 'noise quota'. The government pushed this through readings in the House of Commons but was defeated twice in the Lords. The minister, Gillion Merron has now said that the government will not force in this change when the bill has its final reading this autumn. But, as soon as the 6 years is up, the government can increase the allowed number of night flights to whatever it fancies without needing legislation. (It will have to consult, as now, but can still ignore comments and do whatever it chooses.)

(Updated Aug 06)

Budget finances Heathrow destruction

Gordon Brown's budget will finance the destruction of homes and the poisoning of our air, says Friends of the Earth.

Aviation is one of the most under-taxed sectors in the economy as well as being the most environmentally damaging. Its tax exemptions of £9 billion pa mean that demand is artificially stimulated and more money can be pumped into expanding Heathrow.

The Chancellor decided not to increase the only tax on aviation, namely Airport Passenger Duty (APD). This brings in about £900m a year, which contrasts with the tax levels of £9 billion pa that environmentalists and some economists are calling for. More information.

(Mar 06)

Climate campaign takes off

Friends of the Earth main campaign this year is on climate change.

Climate change is - quite simply - the most important issue in the world. But the UK government, while paying lip service, is doing little to address the issue.

Friends of the Earth has therefore launched a campaign called 'The Big Ask'. See national FOE site for more information.

Public meetings are being arranged around the country. There is one in Ealing on 26 April and another is being planned for Richmond in May. Check the home page for latest information.

(Mar 06)

Wiltshire to help poison our air?

There is a sinister new twist to the Grundon incinerator. Impatient with trying to get our West London boroughs to sign up to incinerating our rubbish, Grundon has gone touting for business around the country. Wiltshire County Council wants to transport its rubbish to Slough so that it can be burnt there and the pollution can blow over us rather than themselves.

Wiltshire Labour, Conservative and LibDem councillors apparently all support this plot. See Colnbrook - latest news for more information.

(Jan 06)

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Stricken jumbo allowed to fly over West London

A stricken Jumbo was allowed to fly over London with one engine down and three failing. This came to light following a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

This highlights the fact that Heathrow is by far the most dangerous airport in the country for those on the ground. See full story.

(Jan 06)

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For our earlier stories see Stories Archive. Here are the titles:

• All children matter" - unless they are under the flight path
• Darling gives up on traffic
• Great night flights rally - but can we trust the MPs?
• Residents hit by Heathrow triple whammy
• Hurricane disaster highlights global warming threat
• Government attacks environmental campaigner
• Local campaigner wins national award
• Victory for environment at Richmond Park
• Is Labour election win bad news for the environment?
• Heathrow expansion lobby group launched
• Consultation shows support for tram
• No extension to congestion charge zone beyond Hammersmith
• Labour and Conservatives ignore environment in election
• Night Flights Consultation
• No joy on Heathrow court case
• Front gardens and cars on telly
• Ken Livingstone gets heavy on West Waste
• Hillingdon Air Quality Action Plan
• Front gardens matter!
• Richmond Park Decision Day Approaches
• Airport Expansion Pledge Launched
• Heathrow Blight and Noise Consultation
• West London tram
• Ken Livingstone is mayor again
• Front gardens matter!
• Government suppresses statistics on road and plane emissions
• Bigger congestion charge zone
• Government Struggles over Air Pollution at Heathrow
• Global warming bigger threat than terrorism
• M25 widening - a disaster and a disgrace
• Hottest day ever recorded
• Heathrow Runway 3 coming?
• Aviation tax dodges now £9 billion pa
• M25 widening condemned
• 3rd runway at Heathrow
• Michael Meacher goes
• Euro court rules on Heathrow night flights
• Biodiversity strategy
• Residents say no to third runway
• Labour's cronies win awards
• Local plans
• Labour's cronies win awards
• Local plans