PROTESTING OVER THIRD RUNWAY
Thousands attend rally against Heathrow’s third runway
PEOPLE opposed to a third runway at Heathrow descended on central London at the weekend to show their opposition.
Politicians, mayoral candidates from major political parties and people who will be affected by the proposals attended the rally, in Parliament Square, in Westminster on Saturday (October 10).
From the minute the rally started at just before 11am until 12.30pm when it ended, the Westminster Abbey bells rang non-stop and threatened to drown out the speakers.
Despite this John Stewart, chair of HACAN, the campaign group opposing the third runway, felt it was “very successful”.
He added: “I think there were between 3,000 and 4,000 here.
“It sent a very strong message to David Cameron that there remains a lot of opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.”
Neil Keveren, who lives in Harmondsworth and could lose his home if a third runway is built, added: “It was a good rally with some wonderful speakers. People here are very positive. They are adamant it won’t go ahead.”
And Bryan Tomlinson of Stop Heathrow Expansion said: “We have to leave a planet fit for our children and future generations to live free from deadly air pollution and overflown by 260,000 extra flights which is a disaster waiting to happen.”
Speakers at the rally included Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington, and Twickenham MP Tania Mathias, who drew a loud cheer when she pointed out that the decision on expansion is due in December, and added: “We must remind the Government that this third runway would be for life, not just for Christmas.”
London Mayoral contenders Zac Goldsmith MP (Conservatives), Sadiq Khan MP (Labour), Sian Berry (Green), Caroline Pidgeon (Lib Dem) and Peter Whittle (UKIP) were present, as was John Sauven, chief executive of Greenpeace and Gina Parihar of Friends of the Earth.