20/08/2007
Climate Protesters Gather At Heathrow Airport
After a week camped outside the offices of Heathrow Airport, close to 2,000 police officers were called in to intervene in a climate change protesters demonstration.
The scuffles in a field close to airport operator BAA's building came after largely peaceful marches from a group named Camp for Action, where campaigners who want to draw attention to the impact of aviation on global warming have gathered.
Protesters have promised a day of "direct action", and BAA has told its staff not to go to its offices.
As protesters tried to break through police lines, there was some "pushing and shoving" between the two sides as protesters approached the BAA site.
Corralled into the car park at the BAA building, a peaceful sit-in was held. Protesters have now set up tents, brought in blankets and settled in for the night.
One activist says the protest is controversial.
"A lot of people don't agree with the views, they just want to jump in their car or jump on their plane and go on holiday. And they don't care that it's killing the environment for their children, their grandchildren," he said.
"I live at the end of the northern runway and basically where the planes take off they leave their tyre tracks on top of my roof. So you can understand why I'm here peacefully protesting."
He says he is pleased that the protest has been peaceful and hopes at stays that way.
Organisers predicted around 2,000 protesters would join the day of direct action but only around 300 turned up.
(CD/SP)
The scuffles in a field close to airport operator BAA's building came after largely peaceful marches from a group named Camp for Action, where campaigners who want to draw attention to the impact of aviation on global warming have gathered.
Protesters have promised a day of "direct action", and BAA has told its staff not to go to its offices.
As protesters tried to break through police lines, there was some "pushing and shoving" between the two sides as protesters approached the BAA site.
Corralled into the car park at the BAA building, a peaceful sit-in was held. Protesters have now set up tents, brought in blankets and settled in for the night.
One activist says the protest is controversial.
"A lot of people don't agree with the views, they just want to jump in their car or jump on their plane and go on holiday. And they don't care that it's killing the environment for their children, their grandchildren," he said.
"I live at the end of the northern runway and basically where the planes take off they leave their tyre tracks on top of my roof. So you can understand why I'm here peacefully protesting."
He says he is pleased that the protest has been peaceful and hopes at stays that way.
Organisers predicted around 2,000 protesters would join the day of direct action but only around 300 turned up.
(CD/SP)
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CC Orders BAA To Sell Two Airports
The Competition Commission (CC) has ordered BAA to sell both Gatwick and Stansted as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow. In its final report on BAA's ownership of seven UK airports, the CC also stipulates that BAA must sell all three airports within two years.
02 September 2008
Virgin May Bid For Gatwick Ownership
A team from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Group is in the market to bid for a major UK airport. He has put together a consortium to raise the £2bn to buy Britain's second largest airport - Gatwick - now that the current owner BAA is selling it due to well publicised competition concerns.
Virgin May Bid For Gatwick Ownership
A team from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic Group is in the market to bid for a major UK airport. He has put together a consortium to raise the £2bn to buy Britain's second largest airport - Gatwick - now that the current owner BAA is selling it due to well publicised competition concerns.
20 August 2008
Commission Urges BAA To Sell Three Airports
BAA is being urged to sell three of its seven airports because of concerns about its dominance in the market. The Competition Commission (CC) is recommending that the airport operator should have to sell two of its three airports in the south east: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
Commission Urges BAA To Sell Three Airports
BAA is being urged to sell three of its seven airports because of concerns about its dominance in the market. The Competition Commission (CC) is recommending that the airport operator should have to sell two of its three airports in the south east: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
17 September 2008
BAA Announces Plans To Sell Gatwick "Immediately"
Airport operator BAA has announced plans to sell the UK's second-largest airport, Gatwick "immediately". BAA's Chief Executive Colin Matthews, in a statement, said: "Gatwick has long been an important and valuable part of BAA and the decision to sell was not taken lightly.
BAA Announces Plans To Sell Gatwick "Immediately"
Airport operator BAA has announced plans to sell the UK's second-largest airport, Gatwick "immediately". BAA's Chief Executive Colin Matthews, in a statement, said: "Gatwick has long been an important and valuable part of BAA and the decision to sell was not taken lightly.
21 October 2009
Gatwick Airport Sold Off
One of Britain's biggest airports has been sold. After the Competition Commission ruled in March that the company would have to sell the airport within two years, BAA said today it has agreed the sale of Gatwick Airport in a deal worth £1.51bn. The airport will be sold to Global Infrastructure Partners, the owner of City Airport, BAA said.
Gatwick Airport Sold Off
One of Britain's biggest airports has been sold. After the Competition Commission ruled in March that the company would have to sell the airport within two years, BAA said today it has agreed the sale of Gatwick Airport in a deal worth £1.51bn. The airport will be sold to Global Infrastructure Partners, the owner of City Airport, BAA said.
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