Plane Stupid protest at Scottish Parliament
11.04.08
Plane Stupid, the direct action environmental group opposed to airport expansion, have staged a protest on the roof of the Scottish Parliament today. Adam Weymouth and Matilda Gifford, both 23, from the protest group climbed on to the roof at Holyrood in Edinburgh about 09:00.
The pair sat on the canopy at the parliament and unfurled a banner reading: 'Planestopping. Choose a future. Say no to airport expansion.' They came down at about 14:00 and were arrested for breach of the peace.
The protest was over the government's major developments consultation process. It was timed to coincide with the end of the consultation on the National Planning Framework proposals, which finishes tomorrow. The group said it felt the process was 'incompatible' with the Scottish Government's current plans to mitigate climate change.
Mr Weymouth said: 'We are facing a runaway climate threat but the Scottish Government's reaction is to triple air traffic and expand Glasgow and Edinburgh Airport whilst conveniently excluding aviation from the Scottish Climate Bill. The climate scientists have made it clear - we have to stop airport expansion. That's why we've taken it to the top.'
Plane Stupid said it was opposed to the Scottish Government's National Planning Framework proposals. Under this, ministers would have the final say on major national developments. Improvements to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports are among the infrastructure schemes identified in the framework. The protest group said it was against the plans as public or parliamentary approval would be 'by-passed.'
Miss Gifford said: 'The environmental and democratic credibility of this framework is zero. Without reducing aviation and emissions there will be no future to plan for.'
A Holyrood spokeswoman said police were responsible for public safety outside the Parliament building. She added: ‘As neither public access, Parliamentary business nor the building are at risk, the Parliament is considered secure.’ A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said: 'Two protesters were arrested for breach of the peace.'
A few weeks ago Plane Stupid activists in London climbed on to the roof of Westminster over plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
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