Richard Briers digs in to stop the third runway

"This new runway is just such a daft idea. It's obvious to everyone who digs a garden that the climate is already changing, and things are set to get even worse, so why make Heathrow the biggest single emitter of CO2 in the country?" - Richard Briers
When the time came to dig an allotment on the Airplot, we knew that we needed some expert advice. And who better to turn to than the man who brought allotments to the attention of millions in 70s TV sensation The Good Life, and organic gardening supremos Garden Organic?
Yes, the latest guest to the Airplot is Richard Briers, who has dusted off his spade and started digging up the land earmarked by Gordon Brown for the construction of a new runway at Heathrow airport.
Richard is joining Gardener's World presenter Alys Fowler to plant organic carrots on the plot - they want to send vegetables to every member of the cabinet, in the hope that they'll enjoy them so much they'll ditch their plans for a third runway.
The allotment will be cared for using organic practices for the benefit of the local community. Unless of course, BAA and the government get their way and a new runway tarmacs over the allotment and the local community with it. But with businesses, environmentalists, gardeners and celebrities joining the tens of thousands of people who've signed up to the Airplot, that's never going to happen, because we own their runway and they're not getting it back!
As Richard says: "If thousands more people sign up to become beneficial owners of the allotment land we'll be able to stand together against Gordon's Brown's silly idea, armed with root vegetables and the knowledge that we're right and he's wrong."
To find out more and join Richard Briers as a beneficial owner of the plot, visit the Airplot site.

No Third Runway

Demonstration against the governments plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport at Downing Street at 5.30 pm on Thursday 19th February 2009. This demonstration was very well attended, with hundreds of anti expansion demonstrators taking the message to Gordon Brown that we don't want his new runway. A handful of pro expansion demonstrators turned out too, showing the true reflection of people's views on this issue. Gordon Brown should listen to the people who pay him and his government to run this country for us. The destruction of a community, while advocating sustainable communities, compliance in BA/BAA's plans for a third runway which will see CO2 emissions soar, while setting targets for reductions in them are just two examples of how two faced he and his government are. We will not let him get his way, we will see the back of him and his government before he can see this wicked plan come to fruition.

Heathrow Airport Expansion

Up at 6.30 am to catch the 7.11 to Waterloo, in the pouring rain. Should I walk the 15 mins to College Green (opposite the Houses of Parliament) or catch the Jubilee Line to Westminster, and then just a short walk. No brainer really. Get on the tube for the 2 min ride to Westminster, but, alas, the train won't start. The announcement promises it will be fixed, but then another announcement says, sorry, but the train will have to be taken out of service. So, a dash to College Green, in the rain, to arrive over 15 mins late for the 8am demonstration against Heathrow Airport Expansion. 57 red balloons to represent the 57 Labour MP's who may vote against Gordon Browns plans to destroy a community in Sipson, to the north of Heathrow. The Conservative and Lib Dem parties along with the Greens and others are against the expansion. I join in the protest song, vote NO to airport expansion, then the small crowd breaks up at 8.30am to go back to where we came, which is all over London and the suburbs, as Airport Expansion will not only affect the residents of the village that would be destroyed, but a large area of London and its suburbs, where the quality of life will be destroyed by the constant noise and pollution created by air travel. Was it worth it, YES, we have to stand up for what we believe to be right, even if those around us say, what's the point, the Government will do whatever it is that they want anyway. We pay the government, so it’s about time they listened to us, and did what we want.