Anger over bid to stop airport demo

The groups say that airport operator BAA has gone to "ludicrous" lengths to try to ban "millions of people" from coming anywhere near the west London airport.

BAA is seeking an injunction next Wednesday against the planned Camp for Climate Action protest at Heathrow airport from August 14 to 21.

BAA says it has a duty to protect the travelling public from disruption. But campaign groups intending to protest claim that BAA has resorted to "legal bullying".

The groups say that "millions of Britons" could be banned from the airport, the London Underground's Piccadilly line, parts of the mainline rail network and sections of the M25 and M4 motorways if it is believed they are going to protest in the area.

They say that the injunction will apply not only to Heathrow anti-noise and anti-expansion group Hacan and to the No Third Runway Action Group (Notrag), but would also seek to ban such organisations as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Woodland Trust.

Hacan chairman John Stewart said: "This is the mother of all injunctions. Our members are furious. We are not a direct action organisation. Isn't it time for BAA to face up to the fact that Heathrow is big enough already rather than trying to get this ridiculous injunction? Instead of rational argument BAA has resorted to legal bullying."

Christine Shilling, Notrag press secretary, said: "It's time BAA got it straight. We need protecting from them. They intend to bulldoze our homes, our schools, destroy our communities, erase our history and ruin our lives. But somehow we are now the threat and not them. It's an Alice in Wonderland logic."

A BAA Heathrow spokesperson said: "During the summer holiday period up to 200,000 people pass through Heathrow daily including many families and children. It is these people who would suffer as a result of any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport.

"We respect people's right to protest within the bounds of the law and the airport bylaws and would invite protestors to similarly respect the rights of passengers travelling through Heathrow."