Direct action against airport expansion may cause cost to soar - 5th April 2006
As reported on this morning’s Today Programme, following the first arrests this week in a new wave of direct action against airport expansion, (1) figures from earlier direct action protests reveal that the costs of new runways will almost spiral when residents and environmental activists take direct action against the runway construction.
The figures, obtained by Plane Stupid (2) for the first time from the Highways Agency using the Freedom of Information Act, show the way direct action protests pushed up the costs of road building in the 1990s so that most road schemes came in well over budget.
The data, seen by direct action campaign group, Plane Stupid, shows that the infamous campaign against the M11 forced the cost of the project up by as much as 120% above the ‘works tender price’. The M11 Hackney Wick Contract 4 which was expected to cost £31.5 million, eventually came in at £69.1 million. During the M11 Campaign residents barricaded themselves inside their houses - a tactic Sipson residents have vowed to mimic if necessary in order to stop a third runway at Heathrow.
Similarly, at Newbury Bypass, activists who tunneled underground and occupied treetops caused a 48% variance between works tender price and work outturn cost. More recently still, the eviction of a small group of campaigners who occupied trees and tunnels at Dalkeith Park (3) near Edinburgh to protect woodland in January 2006 cost the Scottish Executive £1.5 million. (4)
Plane Stupid spokesman, Joss Garman, said:
“These figures should serve as a warning to BAA and the government that should they push ahead with their plans for airport expansion in the face of the science of climate change, they can expect to be writing hefty cheques. Of course those really footing the bill for road building and airport expansion projects are the victims of global warming.”
He added:
"Sipson residents have repeatedly vowed to take direct action to stop airport expansion, precisely because they have seen the successes of movements like the one against road building. Hundreds of roads simply weren’t built as costs went through the roof and builders faced severe disruption. As last Monday's events at BAA Headquarters show, there are people out there willing to do it all again - not least the residents already blighted by noise and air pollution in West London."
Notes for Editors
- On Monday April 3rd, six activists from Plane Stupid were arrested having blockaded the head office of BAA in protest against plans by the company for expansion of airports
- Plane Stupid is a campaign by local people living near to airports, and environmentalists, to take direct action to stop airport expansion.
- http://www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/
- http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=382532006
