Tory delegates get a rude awakening at conference
Anti-third runway protesters hand out a taste of airport life
TORY MPs attending their party conference in Manchester last week were given a rude awakening from Heathrow protesters.
Campaigners from Plane Stupid, who oppose expansion at Heathrow Airport, blasted recorded aircraft noise outside a hotel where delegates were staying at 4.30am.
They said they wanted to give politicians a taste of daily life for those living under the airport’s flight paths.
Neil Keveren, who lives near the airport, used a sound system hidden in a wheelie bin to disrupt the sleep of conference delegates staying at The Midland Hotel in Manchester.
Sandra Davis, who also lives close to Heathrow, said: “We want to send a clear message to Tory MPs, staying just over the road, that a decision before Christmas to give the green light to Heathrow’s third runway will be met with fierce resistance to save the future of our communities environment.
“The air my family are breathing is already over the legal pollution limit with two runways.
“A third runway would mean an extra 250,000 flights a year using Heathrow, only homes,
and exacerbating heart-related linked to flights.”
The stunt on Tuesday morning followed another anti-third runway demonstration on Monday outside the hotel, where protesters unveiled a giant model plane emblazoned with the lung and
diseases words: ‘No third runway, no ifs, no buts’ -a reminder of David Cameron’s pledge before the 2010 election.
The Airports Commission earlier this year recommended a third runway at Heathrow, subject to a number of conditions, and the Government is expected to announce its plans for aviation expansion before Christmas.
The announcement that Lord Andrew Adonis will lead a National Infrastructure Commission, will fuel speculation the Government intends to give Heathrow expansion the go-ahead.
Lord Adonis was transport secretary for the Labour government from 2009 to 2010 and is a prominent supporter of a third runway at Heathrow.