A report from Southend Airport’s exhibition on its expansion followed by an interview with Denis Walker, Spokesman for SAEN.
Archive for the ‘Media’ Category
Airport applies to extend terminal
Friday, January 13th, 2012Southend Airport runway protesters given police bail
Sunday, October 30th, 2011Fifteen climate change activists arrested at London Southend Airport have been released on bail.
Members of Plane Stupid and Climate Rush entered the airport at 09:00 BST on Saturday and were arrested by Essex police officers.
They had planned to put solar panels on the runway and perform a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew.
The five men and 10 women have been released on police bail until 30 November.
They were being held on suspicion of entering a restricted zone at an airport and aggravated trespass.
‘Solar power needed’
The airport wants to extend its runway by 300m (984ft) to allow larger passenger aircraft to be used.
The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal, by 2020.
In a statement before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs.
“But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate.
“What we need is solar power, not plane power.”
An airport spokeswoman said the runway had been closed for a “short period” while police dealt with the situation but no flights had been affected.
Southend Airport protestors bailed after security breach
Sunday, October 30th, 2011FIFTEEN protesters arrested on suspicion of a security breach at Southend Airport have been bailed.
Police have now confirmed that it was five men and 10 ten women who were arrested at about 9am on Saturday. They have now been bailed until November 30.
The group includes a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman from Norwich and a 43 year-old man from Whistable in Kent. The remainder are from various areas of London.
Protest organisation Plane Stupid has claimed responsibility for five of the protestors who they say managed to get on the runway at 9am today to try and install solar panels.
They were dressed as pilots and cabin crew.
They say an extra five were from another group called Climate Rush.’
Police were called to the scene just after 9am.
The group remain in police custody.
A spokeswoman for the protestors said: “What we need is solar power not plane power.” A spokeswoman for Southend Airport said: “Earlier this morning Essex Police were called to London Southend airport following a report of suspicious activity at the airport perimeter. “Police swiftly dealt with a breach in the airport perimeter and a number of people were arrested. “The runway was closed for a short period whilst the police responded. “No flights were impacted by this event.”
The Stop Airport Extension Now (SAEN) group has denied any involvement, but a spokesman said: “it’s understandable why they are feeling so frustrated.”
Southend Airport runway protesters arrested
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Fifteen climate change activists have been arrested at London Southend Airport.
Members of Plane Stupid and Climate Rush entered the airport at 09:00 BST and were apprehended by officers.
In a press release, the groups said they planned to put solar panels on the runway and do a dance routine dressed as pilots and cabin crew.
Police initially said 16 people were in custody, but at 15:00 BST confirmed five men and 10 women were detained.
The airport wants to extend its runway by 300m (984ft) to allow larger passenger aircraft to be used.
‘Solar power’
The Stobart Group, which owns the airport, aims to have two million passengers a year passing through its terminal, by 2020.
In a statement before the arrests, a spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs.
“But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate.
“What we need is solar power, not plane power.
“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”
Using Twitter, Plane Stupid said members had invaded the runway at 09:00 BST and remained there “for at least an hour”.
Essex Police said officers responded quickly to reports of protesters gaining access to Southend Airport shortly after the protesters broke in.
Flights ‘unaffected’
All 15 suspects are being held on suspicion of entering a restricted zone at an airport and aggravated trespass.
A 20-year-old man and a 19 year-old woman from Norwich and a 43 year-old man from Whitstable in Kent are among those arrested.
The remainder are from various parts of London.
Det Ch Insp Stuart Hooper said: “We were on heightened general alert to airports and our response to the protest was very swift.
“We have a number of well-rehearsed contingency plans for events such as this and we have launched a criminal investigation following the incident at Southend.”
An airport spokeswoman confirmed the runway had been closed for a “short period” while police dealt wth the situation.
“No flights were impacted by this event,” she said.
Southend Airport: Sixteen Arrested After Activists Walk On Runway
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Sixteen people have been arrested after a protest at an airport, police said.
Activists went on to the runway at Southend Airport in Essex shortly after 9am on Saturday.
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”
Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.
Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.
A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.
“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”
Arrests After Protesters Get On To Runway
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Sixteen people have been arrested after a protest at London Southend Airport.
Activists went on to the runway in south Essex shortly after 9am on Saturday morning.
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”
Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.
Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.
A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.
“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”
16 arrested after airport protest
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Sixteen people have been arrested after a protest at an airport, police said.
Activists went on to the runway at Southend Airport in Essex shortly after 9am on Saturday.
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”
Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.
Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.
A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.
“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”
A spokeswoman for the airport said later: “Earlier this morning Essex Police were called to London Southend Airport following a report of suspicious activity at the airport perimeter.
“Police swiftly dealt with a breach in the airport perimeter and a number of people were arrested.
“The runway was closed for a short period whilst the police responded. No flights were impacted by this event.”
Sixteen arrested after airport protest
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Tim Moynihan
Sixteen people were arrested today after a protest at an airport, police said.
Activists went on to the runway at Southend Airport in Essex shortly after 9am.
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “Sixteen people gained entry to Southend Airport. We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”
Some managed to get on to the runway, she added.
Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.
A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs. But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.
“The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.” PA
Southend Airport: Runway Protest
Saturday, October 29th, 201115 people have been arrested after demonstrators gained access to the runway at Southend Airport.
Police were called shortly after 9am on Saturday (29 October).
A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: “15 people gained entry to Southend Airport.
We were deployed very quickly and have arrested them all, and they are in custody.”
Ten women and five men were held in custody, and then released on conditional bail.
They are due to report back to police on the 30th of November.
Campaigners said the demonstration was against the planned expansion of the airport.
A spokeswoman for the protesters said: “Southend Council say the expansion will bring jobs.
But investment in renewable energy would create many more jobs without damaging the climate. What we need is solar power not plane power.
The bigger runway is bad for climate change, bad for local residents under the flight path and is not needed to help the local economy.”
Southend Airport has issued the following statement: “Essex police were called to London Southend airport following a report of suspicious activity at the airport perimeter.
Police swiftly dealt with a breach in the airport perimeter and a number of people were arrested.
The runway was closed for a short period whilst the police responded but no flights were impacted by this event.”
