BBC Essex 20120113 Ray Clark Breakfast

Air safety regulations demand the lights next to the A127, close to the RBS and Tesco roundabout in Westcliff, had to be reduced in height.

The work is part of the package of measures to get the airport ready for regular easyJet flights, due to start in April.

Already, the same shorter street lights have been installed the complete length of Nestuda Way.

This runs across the end of the runway, which needs to be 300 metres longer to accommodate the increase in business.

The move comes after residents were left outraged last month following the chopping down of seven trees along Prince Avenue, between the junctions with Exford Avenue and Dulverton Avenue. This was also to make allowances for low-flying planes.

Three more trees were pruned to comply with the Civil Aviation Authority rules.

Plus, television aerials will also have to go from homes in the flight path.

Some residents in the surrounding area have already received letters asking them to remove their aerials because of aviation regulations.

Graham Longley, leader of the Lib Dem group in Southend, said: “I honestly don’t think for a minute we are going to have a plane the level of an aerial or lamp post.

“The airport has the right to do these things in law. It is not something we can do a great deal about.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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 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

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.”