Carnival NO to Heathrow expansion

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:54:20

Campaigners opposed to Heathrow expansion will come together on Saturday May 31 to create a giant human NO – and the Royal Borough is urging local people to join the ‘fun event with a serious purpose’.

A carnival procession will start from Hatton Cross tube station at 12 noon and make its way to the village of Sipson which would be destroyed by the third runway plan.

The main event will take place at Sipson Recreation Ground from 2pm until 3.30pm.

Speaking on behalf of the 2M Group, Cllr David Burbage, leader of the Royal Borough, said: “This is a fun event with a serious purpose. People opposed to further expansion will be spelling out the biggest and loudest NO to a policy that can only lead to more noise, air pollution and climate change.”

The rally is being organised by the Stop Heathrow Expansion campaign, which is backed by community groups, charities, politicians and local authorities.

It will be a fun event for all the family. The main road in Sipson will be closed off and there will be stalls, food, drink and children’s activities including bouncy castles and face-painting. Special buses are planned to ferry people back to the tube and rail stations.

The rally is likely to be the last event of its kind before transport secretary Ruth Kelly announces her decision on proposals for a new third runway and increased use of existing runways. More than 70,000 people have already responded to the Government's consultation on its expansion plans.

Find out more about the event at www.make-a-noise.org