Despite changing a misleading title on my previous post (which seemed accurate on the scant information available earlier this morning), I'm now beginning to think even 'BAA wins its case' is a bit too strong. Sure, they managed to get something out of their High Court injunction but it's a far cry from what they applied for.
BAA wanted to prevent at least five million people from going anywhere near Heathrow during the Camp for Climate Action next week. What they got was an injunction against supporters from Plane Stupid going to Heathrow with "unlawful intent" (but they'll still be able to attend the camp), as well as named individuals from two other groups. That's it.
As well as kicking out the claim for an injunction against HACAN, Airportwatch and No Third Runway Action Group, Mrs Justice Swift also refused to grant any restrictions to the various roads, railways and Underground lines mentioned in BAA's application. She also said it was "extraordinary" that Transport for London and London Underground had not been consulted, and ordered BAA to pay their legal costs along with those for the other protest organisations who were dragged into court to defend themselves.
Mark Bullock, managing director of BAA Heathrow, was rather disingenuous when he said in a statement, "This injunction has never been about stopping lawful and peaceful protests. BAA has always respected people's democratic right to protest lawfully." On the flip side, reaction from those who have actually been named in the injunction has been overwhelming positive, with quotes along the lines of, 'The mother of all injunctions has become the mother of all defeats.'
The upshot of all this is that the Camp for Climate Action will go ahead as planned, and some of the attendees will not be allowed to approach Heathrow with bad thoughts in their head. BAA have tried to use their corporate clout to ban a legitimate protest about the activities of the aviation industry and failed. Instead, as many people have pointed out, they've generated huge publicity for the camp and saved a lot of people an awful lot of work.
Cheers!
