Bristol Airport protestors: ‘We are watching you’

Protesters made it clear they still have eyes on Bristol Airport at a demonstration on Wednesday.

Members of Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), Extinction Rebellion and the local community joined forces on a roundabout at the airport’s entrance to tell the world they are still watching – despite plans to expand the airport being approved.

The network has been campaigning against expansion proposals for over four years, during which time the application was refused planning permission by North Somerset Council before the government stepped in to overturn the decision.

A further appeal was rejected by the High Court in January this year, giving the airport the greenlight to expand from 10 to 12m passengers per year.

Protesters tell Bristol airport “We are watching you” at a demonstration on June 21 – photo: Ursula Billington

Local people say they are already experiencing problems caused by increased flights, traffic congestion and dangerous illegal on surrounding roads.

One protester told Bristol24/7 she lives at the beginning of the flight path, where planes drop low to the ground causing disruptive noise pollution.

She said she had noticed an increase in night flights and a build up of traffic through her village on the outskirts of Bristol.

“I was awake from midnight to 3am the other night and heard six planes come in,” she said.

“We’re already seeing lots more cars on our country roads. It’s supposed to be a very quiet village!”

Protesters are concerned about extra carbon emissions and the building of a multi-storey car park on local greenbelt land.

They also feel the decision to expand has been a betrayal of democracy, after thousands of local people objected to initial proposals.

Of the 11,000 comments on the airport’s initial proposal, nearly 80 per cent were objections.

Local MP Liam Fox, West of England metro mayor Dan Norris, Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council all supported local opinion.

Protesters are concerned about carbon emissions, traffic congestion, noise pollution and new building on greenbelt land – photo: Ursula Billington

But despite their pleas being ignored, protesters want the authorities to know they will continue to hold the airport to account.

Steve Clarke, spokesman for BAAN, said the airport should not get complacent.

“We want to remind the airport we’re watching them,” he said.

“We’re watching what they do in terms of the conditions they had to agree to get the planning permission and what their future plans are.

“They aren’t going to stop at 12m passengers – they’ve published plans to go to 20m. We think if they really want to do that, they’ll put in another planning application quite soon.

“They thought they’d get this one through in three months and it’s taken four years and counting, because we’ve delayed them. Delay has always been our friend.”

Clarke said the protesters haven’t lost hope despite the ups and downs of the last four years.

“The scientists say the expansion will create a million tons of additional carbon a year.

“We’ve saved four million tons of carbon just by campaigning. In context – the whole of Bristol’s road transport produces only half a million tons a year.

“We’re in a time of climate crisis – this decision is completely mad.

“To be clear – we’re not trying to close Bristol airport. We just say it’s big enough.”

Extinction Rebellion were present at the protest, which was greeted by honks of support from passing cars – photo: Ursula Billington

Clarke suggests carbon neutral flights are a long way off. Government targets are set at only 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuel by 2030, while the amount of people flying is increasing by two to three per cent a year.

“Technology isn’t going to save us,” he said.

“The only way to do it is to fly less. It’s been proved time and again – build more roads, you get more cars. Expand airports, more people fly. 20 other UK airports have expansion plans. We need to put a stop to it now.”

Meanwhile, France has banned domestic flights where train alternatives are available and Amsterdam is discussing banning private jets, in efforts to mitigate the climate emergency.

Bristol Airport say the expansion will provide 800 jobs at the airport and up to 5,000 regionally, “with a focus on the region’s most deprived areas.”

They estimate it will contribute £430m to the local economy.

This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.

Main photo: Chris Head

Read more:

• Bristol airport expansion given green light by High Court
• ‘The case of Bristol Airport exposes the gaping flaw in national planning guidance’
• Firm fighting Bristol Airport expansion protesters wins top award

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