Responding to Ruth Kelly's announcement that a decision on the expansion of Heathrow airport is to be delayed until the end of the year, Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said:

"The Government is having a massive runway wobble. Ministers are facing an inevitable legal challenge if they give the green light to Heathrow expansion. An objective assessment of pollution and the impact a new runway would have on our chances of tackling climate change can only lead to a rejection of further airport expansion. A courageous Prime Minister would now stand up to the aviation industry and unite with the people of West London by dropping plans for Heathrow expansion."

For more information please call the Greenpeace press office on 0207 865 8255

Ruth Kelly's written statement can be viewed at http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements....

Gordon Brown faces a new headache this weekend as thousands prepare to march around Heathrow airport demanding a halt to his government’s push for a third runway.

West London residents will be joined by environmentalists at the Make A Noise Carnival on Saturday afternoon. The protesters will walk from Hatton Cross tube station then along Heathrow’s perimeter fence to Sipson – the village set to be bulldozed if Brown’s plans for expansion go ahead. There the thousands of marchers will gather in a field to form the world’s biggest ever ‘NO’ – visable to landing aircraft (and descending Prime Ministers).

Pictures and broadcast images taken from a crane above the NO will be made available – roads close at 11am so media vehicles should be in Sipson before then if necessary.

A letter of support from the Archbishop of Canterbury will be read out, while MPs from all the main political parties are joining the marchers. Research by Greenpeace released today reveals growing dissent as most London Labour MPs who reveal their position now oppose their party’s plans for Heathrow expansion. Dissenters even include health minister Ann Keen.

The protest carnival will be addressed by MPs including John McDonnell – whose constituency includes the airport - Richmond representative Susan Kramer and rising Tory Justine Greening. Green MEP Caroline Lucas, environmentalist George Monbiot, local council leaders and Sipson residents will also take the stage before bands entertain the carnival-goers.

Tamsin Omond, who recently scaled the roof of Parliament in protest at Heathrow expansion, is one of the organisers of Make A Noise. She said: “Gordon Brown’s got a real fight on his hands here. People face losing their homes if he gives the green light to a third runway, and they’ll be joined on Saturday by thousands of others who are deeply concerned about increased noise levels and climate change. That’s why we’ll be using our bodies to form a NO so big it will be visable from planes circling Heathrow. The mood in West London is pretty angry right now. If the next election is close then Brown may regret taking us on.”

The Make A Noise Carnival is the last chance for Londoners to register their opposition to expansion before transport secretary Ruth Kelly formally announces the Government’s plans for Heathrow. Labour has said it supports building a third runway, and earlier this year held a ‘public consultation’ widely derided as a sham. Documents acquired under freedom of information legislation revealed extraordinary collusion between Brown’s administration and airport operator BAA, with the consultation process being fixed and unhelpful pollution data ‘stripped out’ (Sunday Times front page, March 9th 2008).

The Government and BAA want to see a third runway and sixth terminal built over the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth, increasing the number of flights from 480,000 a year to more than 700,000. A quarter of a million Londoners face increased levels of noise, while CO2 emissions from Heathrow would rise dramatically at a time when politicians claim to be tackling global warming. Even Brown’s own environment advisors at the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) are now calling for a halt to Heathrow expansion.

For more information call 07801 212967 - www.make-a-noise.org

Notes:

The Make A Noise Carnival begins at Hatton Cross tube between noon and 12.45 on Saturday 31st May 2008. It will arrive at Sipson at 2.30pm. Video and stills from crane above field will be made available.

There will be no vehicle access to Sipson village after 11am. Sat trucks are recommended to park at the Renaissance Hotel nearby (Bath Road, TW6 2AQ)

Map of start point, route and location of ‘Big NO’

Reacting to news of a major initiative to "retrofit" London's public buildings - including police and fire stations - to cut energy waste, Greenpeace Chief Scientist Dr Doug Parr said:

"London is setting the pace, and if we're going to beat climate change then we need to see this level of ambition in cities across the world. Slashing energy waste and decentralising power across the capital will save Londoners money and cut emissions, but just as importantly it will mean our city is seen as an environmental trailblazer.

"Energy efficiency might not be one of the most eye catching ways to save the world, but it remains one of the cheapest, quickest ways of tackling global warming. We need to see this kind of thinking in every town in the country, and most importantly in Gordon Brown's government."

For more contact Greenpeace on 0207 865 8255.

Notes

Energy service companies Dalkia and Honeywell were selected by the Greater London Authority under the C40 climate initiative.

The companies have pledged to cut energy use in GLA buildings by 25 per cent.

The scheme is to be widened to encourage every public sector organisation in London to participate in the same deal. 

Responding to Ken Livingstone's announcement today that gas-guzzling vehicles will have to pay £25 a day to enter London's congestion charge zone, Greenpeace Chief Scientist Dr Doug Parr said:

"Gas guzzlers have no place in a modern city like London, so it's great news that the congestion charge will give people a big incentive to pollute less.

"Buying one of these vehicles is becoming a bad idea, for the planet and the wallet. If we really want to tackle climate change properly we need to encourage people onto public transport and out of their cars where possible."

ENDS

Greenpeace press office: 020 7865 8255.