Manchester Airport

In mid January this year the Secretary of State gave the go ahead for a second Runway at Manchester Airport despite years of opposition from local residents and environmental groups. Within a fortnight campaigners had moved in to occupy the Bollin Valley at one end of the route.

The proposed second runway, the most environmentally damaging project in the North West of England for decades, will cause the ruination of more than twice as much land as was destroyed by the Newbury Bypass with an even higher price to be paid by the planet as a whole. Air travel has been estimated to contribute between 3-30% of global warming while a study conducted in 1996 estimated that a single transatlantic return flight emits almost half the CO2 emissions as from all other sources (lighting, heating, car use, etc) consumed by an average person yearly.

This unsustainable industry also makes possible the ludicrous policy of transporting food thousands of miles, not only imposing the high environmental costs associated with the consumption of large quantities of non-renewable fossil fuels but also increasing dependence on cash crop monoculture in poor countries. The present road network around Manchester Airport will be unable to cope with the forecast increase in traffic – the M56 through Wythenshawe will have to handle 50,000 more vehicles per day - a third more than London’s M25 already has to cope with.

Taking action against the proposed second runway seems a logical extension of campaigning against the roads programme with many of the same issues raising their ugly heads - pollution for profit; the creation of a limited number of jobs whilst we destroy that on which we depend for life; the destruction of our communities in the name of ‘progress’; the prioritisation of profits for a few over the interests of people and planet.

With other airport developments proposed at Heathrow, in Newcastle and in Birmingham the action being taken by Coalition Against Runway 2 at Manchester Airport could herald a new focus in the Earth First! movement.

Despite the Airport being slow moving in the first few weeks of the camps' existence they are now seeking a possession order in conjunction with the project contractors, Amee and Tarmac. Seven camps now occupy the land under the current possession order - Flywood, Sir Cliff Richard OBE, The Camp of Many Names, Zion Tree, Wild Garlic and Jellybaby - the latter being especially accessible to families who wish to take part in the protest. These occupy only a small part of the land to be taken up by the runway; there are also historic buildings on route, due to be demolished soon.

The next possession hearing for the existing camps takes place on the day of the Update going to print but is expected to be adjourned to allow time to hear the 50 or so affidavits which have been prepared by protestors. Despite the fact that threat of eviction is not entirely imminent tension at the site has been stepped up already with contractors constructing a razor wire fence around the protest site. This work comes complete with a heavy security presence, regular visits from riot police and generators and halogen lamps running all night to ensure that protesters are behaving.

Approximately 25 arrests, mainly under antiquated trade union legislation, have been made to date following actions during fence construction and three protestors are currently on remand. Resistance to the project is also continuing off site with an appearance at the unveiling in an Airport Terminal of a sculpture entitled ‘Ethereal - The Silence of Flight’ (these people have no sense of irony), the calm of which was shattered by the noise of a screaming plane issuing from a briefcase carried by one of the protestors.

A number of events are in the pipeline for those interested in joining CAR 2 supporters in the green and pleasant Bollin Valley, the most important of these is the ‘May The Fourth Be With Us’ weekender bender on May 3/4/5 featuring a Beltane party on the Friday night, workshops on the Saturday, Maypole fun on the Sunday and an action on the Monday.

If you’ve visited the site already you will know how beautiful it is - if you haven’t then what are you waiting for? For further info or for details on setting up a support group in your area contact Coalition Against Runway 2 on 0161 834 8221.

Eviction alert! Possession Order Not Adjourned. GET THERE!