Flash mob to hit Terminal 5?

By Ray Massey

Last updated at 13:45 26 March 2008


Hundreds of demonstrators are threatening to stage a 'flash-mob' protest against airport expansion when Heathrow's £4.3billion Terminal 5 (T5) opens for business tomorrow.

An alliance of 'environmental activists' and local residents are planning what organisers say will be a 'peaceful and legal event' at T5.

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Heathrow Terminal 5

Money well spent?: Heathrow's 'world class' Terminal 5 cost more than £4.3billion to build and 40 years to plan

More than 500 demonstrators wearing bright red 'Stop Airport Expansion' T-shirts are to gather at the new terminal's international arrivals area at 11am.

Flash mobs have become popular in recent years and involve a large number of people who assemble suddenly in a public place and perform an act for a brief time before quickly dispersing.

The protesters are demonstrating against plans to build a third, short runway at Heathrow and a sixth terminal.

John Stewart, chairman of Heathrow anti-expansion residents' group Hacan, said: 'All our predictions about T5 meaning more flights have proved correct.

'The real reason it was built was to provide the terminal capacity to allow more flights on the existing runways, which will mean more noise, pollution and stress for those living under the flight paths.'

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Heathrow Terminal 5

Terminal 5, which has cost £4.3billion, will be opened on Thursday

Environmental campaigner Andrea Needham said: 'The flash mob is a fun event but with a very serious purpose. Airport expansion is totally irresponsible in the face of the devastating effects of climate change.

'Aviation already accounts for 13 per cent of the UK's contribution to climate change and is the UK's fastest-growing source of greenhouse-gas emissions.

'Climate change can be beaten but not by almost doubling the size of the world's biggest international airport.'

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Heathrow Terminal 5

It's been estimated that 30million passengers will pass through Terminal 5 each year

Christine Taylor, vice-chairman of the No Third Runway Action Group, said: 'I will be wearing my red T-shirt and thinking of the villages around Heathrow that would be devastated by further expansion.

'We cannot let that happen. BAA and the government must end the madness of airport expansion.'

A spokeswoman for BAA Heathrow said: 'We respect people's right to protest peacefully and we don't expect any disruption to passengers.

'But [we will be] celebrating the opening of a new gateway to Britain and anyone demonstrating must respect the rights of people who want to fly.'

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