Thousands expected at Heathrow 'climate change' protest

Thousands of people are expected to arrive at a “climate change camp” near Heathrow Airport today.

The campaigners are joining a week-long protest, which officially begins tomorrow, against plans to expand the airport.

They believe that publicity over a legal move by the British Airports Authority aimed at banning protests will lead to a large attendance.

Airport operator has BAA warned it will not allow passengers to be “harassed or obstructed”.

Work started yesterday on a site north of Heathrow between the villages of Sipson and Harlington.

Organisers expect more than 1,500 people from across the UK and other parts of Europe to join the event.

They have forged links with locals who are resisting the building of a third runway at Heathrow.

BAA Heathrow’s managing director Mark Bullock told the BBC: “With the current terrorism threat, keeping Heathrow safe and secure is a very serious business.

“Any action taken by the protesters that distracts us or the police from this task is irresponsible and unlawful.”

BAA won a limited High Court injunction earlier this month banning direct action that could interfere with air travel.

Organisers said the first few days of this week’s camp would be taken up with 100 workshops on issues ranging from campaigning skills to practical training on how to take direct action.

There will be a day of action next Sunday, though what form this will take will not be decided yet.

Protester Gary Dwyer, 34, of Headingley, Leeds, said: “This is a forum of different individuals who want to take action against the root causes of climate change, to empower each other, to alter our lives and make the social changes that we know are necessary.

“Government and corporations are not going to make it better, in fact they are going to make things worse.”

He said the site near Heathrow had been chosen because nowhere in the UK had greater climate impact than the airport.

He said he expected the event to be peaceful.

“We are not terrorists, they know that as much as we know that, it’s a complete abuse of terrorism laws,” he said.

Up to 1,800 police from four forces will be on duty over the next nine days amid fears in Scotland Yard that the protest will attract people intent on causing trouble.

Some civil rights activists have voiced concerns at police tactics after officers made it clear they would deal “robustly” with any problems.

A similar camp last year close to the Drax power station in Yorkshire by 400 protesters led to 40 arrests.