Date published: 2007/08/06
The BBC says:
BAA has won a High Court ruling banning certain protesters from Heathrow during a week-long climate change camp.
The injunction applies to Plane Stupid, which has a history of "direct action", and protesters from two other groups.
But organisers say the ruling is a setback for the airport operator, as it originally sought bans against 15 groups, covering five million people.
BAA said its injunction was aimed at protesters acting unlawfully, and was not aimed at stopping peaceful protest.
The ban will not apply to AirportWatch, an umbrella group covering five million people including members of the RSPB and National Trust, because it is too large to define.
But it will cover Plane Stupid and certain members of two other groups - Hacan Clearskies and the No Third Runway Action Group - if they were intent on unlawful action.
Thousands of people are expected to join the Camp for Climate Action between 14 and 21 August - which organisers say opposes the "lunacy of the government's airport expansion plans".
Unbelievably the judge seems to have gotten it just about right. And now hopefully the police will do their part, and make sure the protesters can protest, but not allow them to harrass anyone or impede the running of the airport. Now if they volunteer to improve the service at the airport (which would not be hard, given how dreadful Heathrow is) then no doubt BAA would welcome a few extra people, with nothing better to do with their time, to help shift luggage. And perhaps the protestors will volunteer how many air miles they have made over the course of their lives. These are the academic middle class, after all, so fly far more on average than the typical British citizen.
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