HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FIRST SSE CONFERENCE

Renewed confidence that Stop Stansted Expansion can win its battle with the Government was the message that SSE supporters took away from our first conference. Almost 200 supporters, MPs and representatives from other airport protest groups packed into the conference at the Stansted Hilton, on 9 February 2003. For many supporters, the highlight of the day was the chance to brainstorm ideas to give the campaign fresh momentum as we enter the next round of the consultation process. A busy workshop session produced fresh ideas and a new spin on some of our most successful activities. Best of all, many supporters wanted to keep the ideas flowing with follow-up meetings to turn words into action. A summary of the main points from the workshops appears below. The conference was opened by Jim Ketteridge, Chairman of Uttlesford District Council, who sponsored the event. Welcoming representatives from other airport protest groups as well as SSE supporters, our chairman, Norman Mead said SSE had become the focal point of opposition to Stansted development. The government had seriously underestimated SSE's determination and our ability to expose the flaws and bias in their arguments. "This is a battle about Government priorities. It is about whether the Government is right to adopt - lock, stock and barrel - the agenda of the aviation industry regardless of the destruction this would cause to the environment and to local communities," he said. He warmly thanked SSE supporters for their tireless efforts in joining marches, writing letters, running the office and raising money. SSE was fortunate to have an 'awesome bank of talent' to call on. "Alistair Darling will not succeed in his attempts to divide and rule," said Norman. "Today, we send him a united message from the South East: no more runways at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or Cliffe. Think again Mr Darling! I hope all of you leave here convinced, more than ever that, by WORKING TOGETHER, we are indeed WINNING and, more importantly, that there will come a time in the not too distance future when we can say WE HAVE WON." Mark Prisk, Sir Alan Haselhurst, Alan Hurst and Christopher Beazley provided a view from Westminster and Brussels and came out strongly in favour of building a case for the offshore option.

Peter Sanders speaking at the first SSE Conference Sir Alan Haselhurst MP speaking at the Conference Mark Prisk MP speaking at the Conference Conference delegates

Huge impact in the media and in Whitehall in the first six months of campaigning was highlighted by Carol Barbone, whose appointment as Campaign Director was announced at the conference. Co-ordination across media, lobbying and grass roots activities was the strategy behind a powerful and ambitious campaign over the next few months.

One of SSE's most powerful weapons is our response to the Government's consultation. Peter Sanders, who heads the working group that drafted the document, took the conference through the carefully researched and persuasively argued SSE case. This will be further strengthened and resubmitted when the revised consultation is announced this month – a rethink brought about by SSE's successful High Court challenge over the exclusion of Gatwick.

(Since the conference, it appears, from press reports, that the Government may be about to do another u-turn, this time considering taxing aviation fuel, a key strand of SSE's case for damping down demand).

From the feedback forms submitted by conference delegates, the keynote speech of the day belonged to Sally Oliver, mother of celebrity chef Jamie, who has become one of SSE's staunchest supporters. In a speech straight from the heart, Sally expressed the indignation of communities at the outrageous proposals for Stansted Airport. Clavering, to which Sally and her family moved 30 years ago, was at risk of becoming of an urban sprawl all the way to Cambridge.

She read a message from Jamie Oliver who argued that if more runway capacity was needed, the Government should consider an offshore airport - 'something really cutting edge'.

She quoted Tony Blair on Iraq when he said we should not take the easy option but look long term – to the future. "I sincerely hope that this government adopts exactly that same philosophy when considering the environment," she said to a loud round of applause.

Fifteen syndicate groups brainstormed a range of topics including raising awareness among communities and businesses, building membership and raising funds. Here is a round-up of comments and ideas put forward that will be developed by SSE's main working group and supporters who volunteered to take the suggestions forward.

Raising awareness

*  Use the 'threat' of Heathrow: before and after photos of Heathrow then and now; publicise a 'house swap' between an Essex and a Heathrow family

*  Show how Essex and Hertfordshire could look by 2030

*  Take the campaign to 'outlying' areas like Chelmsford, Cambridge, Braintree and Harlow to tackle apathy

*  Persuade people across the UK to campaign for more international flights from regional airports

*  Mount a bigger push aimed at local businesses including highlighting key issues such as the threat to employment and higher rents, and gaining support from business for the offshore option

*  Franchise the SSE brand to local business partners for promotional purposes – allow business supporters to 'advertise' on SSE website

*  Win over local business leaders and business organisations and customise SSE's arguments to the needs of different types of businesses. Conduct survey among businesses as a benchmark

*  Tackle commuters on the Liverpool Street – Stansted line and stage an 'event' at Liverpool Street station

*  Create a roadshow including a noise demonstration

Lobbying

*  Instead of forcing the Government into a climbdown, give them a way out by allowing their spin machine to claim credit for coming up with an alternative to airport expansion

*  Build and promote the human rights case

Grass roots

*  Create more support behind basic tasks of leaflet distribution and 'door knocking'

*  Build larger panel of speakers to address local meetings

*  Create a network of supporters/volunteers and community 'cells'

*  Scrap membership fee to increase numbers and rely on voluntary donations or contributions after people join

*  Equip supporters with a regularly updated briefing sheet of arguments

*  Produce leaflets and window posters with short, punchy bullet points on expansion consequences

*  Provide a steer on which newspapers (sympathetic or not) to write to

*  Repeat successful activities like letter-writing days and extend the 'territory'

*  Use existing media like parish magazine to raise membership

*  Raise funds by encouraging standing orders and regular mailshots to members in support of specific activities

Most delegates felt the conference was a day well spent – professional presentations by quality speakers and a chance to share views with other supporters.

Some felt we were a little over-ambitious and tried to cram too much into one afternoon. Talking of cramming, the room was a little too cosy for some! The conference deserved to be promoted more widely and earlier.

There was a small minority view against the offshore option on the grounds that it could undermine the demand management case or threaten Cliffe, which could become synonymous with 'offshore'.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part in our conference and to help organise and stage it. If you would like to help turn conference ideas into action, contact us now at info@stopstanstedexpansion.com