Greenpeace / Celebrities Buy Heathrow Third Runway Plot

Environmental conservation and protection organisation Greenpeace has acquired a plot of land intended to be built on during the construction of London Heathrow Airport’s third runway.

As Enviro-News reported yesterday, the government is expected to shortly announce its verdict on whether it approves of Heathrow Runway 3.

Sipson Village

The area acquired by Greenpeace is about half the size of a football pitch and lies close to the village of Sipson.

Among those involved in the purchase are celebrities Alistair McGowan and Emma Thompson who, along with others, are adamant that, should approval for the third runway be forthcoming, that they will not allow either BAA (the airport operating group that owns Heathrow) or the government to buy the land off them.

Information relating to the financial aspects of the purchases has not been provided.

Aircraft Noise Pollution

Ms Thompson, Mr McGowan and others have highlighted the environmental impact of proposals to increase the number of annual movements at London Heathrow to 720,000 (from a present level of 480,000), i.e., aircraft noise and pollution exceeding acceptable limits.

Those advocating the build of a third runway have drawn attention, meanwhile, to the positive ramifications for the UK economy, with 65,000 new jobs potentially opening up.

Ms Thompson commented: “I don't understand how any government remotely serious about committing to reversing climate change can even consider these ridiculous plans.”

She continued: “It's laughably hypocritical. That's why we've bought a plot on the runway.

“We'll stop this from happening even if we have to move in and plant vegetables.”

John Sauven, the director of Greenpeace, stated: “As the new owners of the land where the government wants to build the runway, we'll resist all attempts at compulsory purchase and represent millions of people from across the world at any planning inquiry.”

By way of a response, BAA said: “Until the government makes a policy decision, questions around legal standing on potential property purchases are purely hypothetical.”

It added: “BAA has put schemes in place to deal with the difficult issues facing local residents and if growth proceeds, we are committed to working with the community in a sensitive manner.”

Images copyright of and provided by Greenpeace