Press Release - 27 June 2004

Terry Waite CBE today inaugurated the first Stop Stansted Expansion Wood on the site of BAA's proposed runway as a symbol of the determination of Stop Stansted Expansion supporters that a second runway will never be built at Stansted Airport.

The inaugural planting of the first oak tree took place at Broxted Hill Farm, Broxted, to officially launch Vanishing Villages featuring Broxted Open Gardens.  The event, built around a five mile circuit of open gardens and special displays, organised by Stop Stansted Expansion and the parish of Broxted which is directly threatened by the expansion plans, attracted visitors from across the region who would also suffer the broader impacts of expansion.

The mass expression of continued opposition to the destruction of homes, heritage and the environment local and global signals the continued resolve of the community to oppose the creation of the world's largest airport at Stansted.

Speaking at the event, Terry Waite reinforced the scale of the threat and called on the Government to review its flawed policy on expansion at Stansted:  "The community is opposed to Stansted expansion.  Lovers of the English countryside are opposed to Stansted expansion.  Major airlines are opposed to Stansted expansion.  Environmentalists are opposed to Stansted expansion.  Independent Inspectors are opposed to Stansted expansion.  How many more people have to speak out?  The whole project is totally unnecessary YET the government continues to press ahead with plans for a second runway. It is high time it listened to the voice of the people rather than submitting to commercial pressure."

Peter Sanders, SSE's Deputy Chairman, meanwhile, pointed to the comprehensive programme that SSE has already put in place to defeat the expansion plans, focusing on legal, planning and commercial viability issues.  "Expansion is very far from being a done deal," he said.  "Our first major opportunity to overturn Government policy will come this autumn with the judicial review in the High Court of the Air Transport White Paper which SSE and others have been able to secure."

"Both Vanishing Villages and the planting of the SSE Wood are potent examples of people's desire to work together to protect our common heritage, as well as to ensure we have the financial backing we need to win through," he continued.

Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) supporters have already reserved more than 500 trees for the SSE Wood in just ten days and many more orders are expected in the months to come.  The main planting of the wood, at both Broxted Hill Farm and on other land earmarked for destruction will take place during National Tree Week later this year.  Anyone wishing to find out more about the initiative or to order trees are invited to contact SSE at 01279 870558, or at info@stopstanstedexpansion.com

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS ON AIRPORT EXPANSION

In Broxted and neighbouring Takeley, 77 homes would be bulldozed and 33 would be virtually uninhabitable because of their proximity to an expanded airport with a second runway.  29 of the total 110 homes and properties under threat are Grade II listed buildings.

However, many thousands more people in the Five Parishes and further afield would suffer from the broader impacts of expansion:  noise, increased pressure on the road and rail network, demand for schools, hospitals, doctors, land take for airport related development including homes for airport workers estimated at c50,000 by the Government and their families which would dramatically change the character of communities within a wide radius.

For further information (including sums raised from the day and final visitor numbers) plus comment and pictures of Terry Waite CBE at the event, contact:

Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, SSE 0777 552 3091 or cbarbone@mxc.co.uk
Campaign Office 01279 870558 or info@stopstanstedexpansion.com