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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Rally aims to stop airport growth | Rally aims to stop airport growth |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Scores of campaigners opposed to a third runway at Heathrow are arriving at a rally to persuade ministers not to expand the airport in west London. | |
| The campaigners say the planned expansion would have a serious impact on hundreds of thousands of homes in the area. | The campaigners say the planned expansion would have a serious impact on hundreds of thousands of homes in the area. |
| But business groups and airlines claim the third runway is essential. | But business groups and airlines claim the third runway is essential. |
| MPs, local council leaders and environmentalists are due to address the rally. | MPs, local council leaders and environmentalists are due to address the rally. |
| Protest organiser Tamsin Omond said: "We are expecting tens of thousands to attend - the weather is good so fingers crossed." | |
| In November last year the government set out proposals for a major expansion at Heathrow which could see the building of a third runway and a sixth terminal. | In November last year the government set out proposals for a major expansion at Heathrow which could see the building of a third runway and a sixth terminal. |
| Village destroyed | Village destroyed |
| The new runway would be 2,200m (about 7,200ft) long and could be in operation by 2020 if it got the go-ahead. | The new runway would be 2,200m (about 7,200ft) long and could be in operation by 2020 if it got the go-ahead. |
| The government has said it would meet noise and air quality targets, but the entire village of Sipson with about 700 homes would be destroyed. | The government has said it would meet noise and air quality targets, but the entire village of Sipson with about 700 homes would be destroyed. |
| The protesters plan to walk from Hatton Cross to Sipson, where they will gather in a field to form the word "No". | The protesters plan to walk from Hatton Cross to Sipson, where they will gather in a field to form the word "No". |
| Protesters spoke of the reasons they had made the journey to west London today. | |
| Martin Newell, 40, from Hackney said: "I'm a Catholic priest and God created this world. To destroy it is blasphemy." | |
| Support jobs | |
| Lewis Jones, 21, from Roehampton said: "I'm here just because the public need to know. Economic expansion and growth is all very well for those making the money but the damage it's doing to the planet is not acceptable. This is building momentum." | |
| But Lord Soley, campaign director of pro-expansion group Future Heathrow, said opinion polls showed local people were in favour of expansion. | But Lord Soley, campaign director of pro-expansion group Future Heathrow, said opinion polls showed local people were in favour of expansion. |
| "Local people know that the airport is vital to the local economy and supports jobs and business," he said. | "Local people know that the airport is vital to the local economy and supports jobs and business," he said. |
| "A third runway will only go ahead within environmental limits on noise and air quality." | "A third runway will only go ahead within environmental limits on noise and air quality." |
| The public consultation period over the proposals ended on 27 February, and final policy decisions are expected to be taken some time next year. | The public consultation period over the proposals ended on 27 February, and final policy decisions are expected to be taken some time next year. |