Greenpeace Airplot:The Heathrow Contest

Exhibition of winning architectural designs in the campaign

which defeated Heathrow’s third runway

Bargehouse
Oxo Tower Wharf
Bargehouse Street
South Bank
London SE1 9PH

2 - 6 June 2010, 11am – 6pm daily, admission free

Standing in the way of a third runway at Heathrow was a small plot of land called Airplot, owned by Greenpeace, Emma Thompson, Alistair McGowan, Zac Goldsmith, and tens of thousands of people from around the world. In January 2010 Greenpeace launched an architectural competition to design a 21st century fortress – capable of resisting BAA’s bulldozers and stopping construction of the runway. Architects from across the world rose to the challenge. The results are awesome and inspiring.

Just days after the winning designs had been chosen the new government announced they would be scrapping plans for the runway. The campaign to stop the third runway is over!


Come and find out how one of the biggest environmental campaigns of the last decade was won and see the designs that will ensure that the 3rd runway never, ever gets built.

More details: www.greenpeace.org.uk/oxo

Ssshhh! LET’S KEEP IT A SECRET !

PRESS RELEASE from Campaigners in Havering:

Havering, the outer London Conservative borough which is officer led, has the most laid back attitude to airport expansion and climate change in the south east.

However, local Tory MP, James Brokenshire, has realised the full impact of expansion at London City Airport. Those plans, combined with NATS flight path alterations, will affect Havering dramatically. However, any consultation with the people who live there has been non-existent.

Havering Tory leader, Michael White, says London City Airport’s growth will NOT create ‘unacceptable environmental impacts so far as we are aware.’ A response to LCA’s Newham planning application was not considered ‘appropriate’. Havering stood alone as the only local authority out of the many to be affected by expansion at LCA not to make ANY response whatsoever.

And how confident are they that the impacts of increased flights are ‘acceptable’? Well, no other members of Havering Council were aware of the LCA expansion plans apart from Michael White and the chairman who signed the decision. The matter was not raised at local area committees or indeed flagged up in the Council’s fortnightly free newspaper.

So Havering Council thinks it’s ‘acceptable’ not to respond to NATS surveys which propose increased over-flying in parts of Havering. It thinks it is acceptable to make no response to a plan to increase flights and emissions at LCA by 50% which will impact on the quality of life for many residents.

But the most staggering betrayal of local democracy is Havering’s secrecy about the whole issue. Local grassroots climate change activists have had to expose the effects of these planning issues and inform the local press, residents and Council members.

And as for public consultation….? Well don’t ask! But we can rest assured that the Council will keep ‘ these and other aviation matters under constant review.’

Well , that’s a relief!


Rosina Purnell
To get involved contact 01708 437811

Government Wobbles at Campaign Against Aviation Expansion

Greenpeace show they have their finger well and truly on the pulse in this article. http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/government-wobbles-over-heathrow-20080228

The Government are under so much pressure, that the prospect of an aviation bubble bursting is nearing the horizon.....any such wobbles at Heathrow will emanate out to all airport expansion plans - including those at London City Airport, hurrah!

Extract from article:

If you're one of the many, many thousands of people involved in the opposition to Heathrow expansion, you may want to give yourself a pat on the back. The day after the 'consultation' closed, there's news that we're getting the message through to 'the highest levels of Labour'.

One MP told the evening Standard there had been a "wobble" within the Department of Transport about BAA's proposals. "They are realising this could cost them votes," he said.
In an attempt to limit the damage, the DfT refused to publish any of the submissions to the consultation, which ended yesterday. Critics claim this is because they are embarrassed that the majority of the responses are opposed to expansion.