Ruth Kelly's homes 'flashmobbed'
04.07.08
Airport expansion protestors were chased away from Ruth Kelly's home after blaring aircraft noise through her letterbox, to protest at the Government's backing of plans to expand Heathrow Airport.
A flash mob from direct action group Plane Stupid played the aircraft noise at 56 decibels - the level deemed by the Department for Transport (DfT) not to be a nuisance to west Londoners - at 07:30 at the Transport Secretary's Docklands address. After 15 minutes the six women protesters were chased away by Mrs Kelly's husband. Other members of the group's Manchester arm targeted Mrs Kelly's constituency home in Bolton.
A spokeswoman for London's Plane Stupid group, Elizabeth Baines, said: ‘It's incredible. Tucked away in her posh London flat I can see now why it is so easy for Ruth to ignore the concerns of West London - the expansion of Heathrow won't threaten her quality of life.’
‘London does not want more noise and air pollution. A decision in favour of BAA would be reckless cowardice. The UK can help beat climate change but not by doubling the capacity of the world's busiest airport.’
A spokesman for the Department of Transport said they would not comment on the protest outside Ruth Kelly's homes, but pointed out that a consultation exercise had been carried out on Heathrow expansion and those views would be taken into account ahead of any decision.
Ms Baines said the group had left a letter for the MP with her husband, which read: ‘We do hope that you will keep this early-morning wake-up call in mind when you decide the future of Heathrow after summer recess.’
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