Climate Camp will highlight urgent need for change - Dakers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Aug 2007

Susan Kramer MP, Cllr Serge Lourie, Cllr Martin Ellengorn and Cllr Andrew Dakers gagged outside the High Court

Campaigners have today succeeded in stopping the worst excesses of an injunction that would have seen a wide-ranging ban on the forthcoming 'Climate Camp' demonstrations at Heathrow. Even the Queen would have been under injunction in her capacity as patron of the Council for Protection of Rural England (CPRE). Lib Dem Cllr Dakers, who as a member of Friends of the Earth was threatened by the injunction, joined fellow campaigners outside the High Court at the start of hearing and has welcomed today's result. He plans to spend some of his summer break at the camp.

Cllr Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats, said:

"The Camp for Climate Change at Heathrow has not come a moment too soon. I look forward to spending a few days of my summer break at the camp and may deliver some training workshops to help support the development of fellow participants campaigning skills."

"Gordon Brown's commitment to tackling climate change is now in doubt. He has downgraded the key cabinet committee on the environment from a full cabinet committee chaired by the Prime Minister to a sub-committee chaired by the Chancellor. In addition a sub-committee which aimed to embed sustainable development in central government departments has been scrapped entirely.

"This, along with a clear Department for Transport appetite to introduce a third runway at Heathrow, sends a clear sign that climate change is not a priority for the Prime Minister. The government's position on the environment is a shambles and Brown's green façade is fast fading."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, Susan Kramer MP said:

"I am relieved that the judge has thrown out the most extreme parts of this injunction. However, BAA should never have used such heavy-handed methods.

"The Company must learn to listen to the legitimate concerns of long-suffering residents who are becoming more and more angry at Heathrow's ever-increasing impact on their lives.

"BAA should concentrate on reducing delays at Heathrow, not squeezing in more and more flights."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Hounslow Liberal Democrats Heathrow Airport Policy Statement

We recognise the vital contribution that Heathrow airport makes to employment and the Borough's economy. However we want to develop an economy strong in its diversity and also recognise the urgency of reducing the impacts of aviation on local health and the global environment.

We will therefore continue to campaign against an expansion of Heathrow airport and retain 'runway alternation', as well as a strengthening of aircraft noise controls. Campaigning by Lib Dems and environmental groups in South-West London against night flights has had some success and BAA have admitted that it should be possible to reduce the noise with newer, quieter planes. We are determined to keep up the pressure.

For more information on the Climate Camp visit:

http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/

Brown downgrades cabinet committee on climate change

The Independent, 5 August 2007

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2836180.ece