Groups say BAA ban 'limited'

Green groups are celebrating after claiming that BAA only won a "limited High Court injunction" ahead of a protest taking place next week.Camp for Climate Action will be demonstrating against expansion plans at Heathrow despite the airport operator being granted an injunction to protect the airport from unlawful direct action.Mrs Justice Swift said the ruling, primarily aimed at protest group Plane Stupid, would only be confined to preventing protesters from "disrupting the operation of Heathrow airport".The decision means that a peaceful protest will still be able to take place at Heathrow from August 14 to 21.Protesters claim BAA resorted to "legal bullying" by trying to extend the ban to people using roads and public transport near, and in some cases far from, the airport.Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Susan Kramer 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."Nicholas Blake QC, representing various defendants, has described the injunction application as an "exercise in confusion and futility".BAA's solicitor Tim Lawson-Cruttenden said the injunction concerned four named defendants - Joss Garman, Leo Murray, Mr Stewart and Geraldine Nicholson - and any members of Plane Stupid, Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise, Airportwatch and No Third Runway Action Group, who acted unlawfully.He stressed: "We are only injuncting those who wish to act unlawfully and there is nothing to stop anyone from coming to the airport if they wish to act lawfully."BAA is also seeking to "facilitate lawful protest" on its land, he said, and had designated three protest areas to ensure that those attending the camp could do so without infringing its by-laws.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | August 7, 2007