Press Release - 14 June 2005

Ramblers preparing to take part in the 4th annual Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) walk on Sunday 26 June can now take a sneak preview of the five routes which will form the centrepiece of the day.

Maps and descriptions for each of the circular walks of the Runway Ramble have been developed to help participants to get the best out of the event and are now available from the SSE website or from the campaign office on 01279 870558.  These include full details of check-in arrangements and estimated completion times, suitability for buggies and assisted wheelchairs and other useful information including (optional) sponsorship forms for those who want to use their efforts to raise money for the campaign fighting fund.

This year's walks of two, five, ten, 15 and 20 miles will each start and finish by The Stag public house in Little Easton (near Great Dunmow), taking ramblers past homes and heritage threatened by the proposed expansion of Stansted Airport.  The walks and distances have been designed to suit everyone from serious walkers to casual ramblers and family groups.  The two mile walk, for example, is especially designed for young families with pushchairs or buggies and for assisted wheelchair users.

All rambles include free entry to the historic Gardens of Easton Lodge whose tranquillity would be shattered by a second runway if expansion at Stansted went ahead as proposed in the Air Transport White Paper.  Walkers are once again being encouraged to obtain sponsorship for their efforts in aid of the SSE campaign fighting fund.

On the day itself, aircraft noise simulations at Broxted Hill will give participants a flavour of the shattering impacts which the world's largest airport would have, while specially designed 'check-in' booths at the 'Starbucks Airport' themed fete in Little Easton from 12 noon onwards will provide a memorable reminder of the nature of the threat facing the community.

The Grand Summer Fete itself features more than 30 attractions including craft stalls and side-shows, BBQ, refreshments, giant inflatable slides, quad biking and tug-of-war, while a balloon race will be set off at 3pm when 1000 yellow balloons will be released in the presence of the Rt Hon Sir Alan Haselhurst MP.

The event organisers including Runway Ramble supremo Stuart Walker whose careful planning for this annual event has won so much praise from those taking part in previous years -  are expecting an excellent turnout, not least because of the growing realisation that the sacrifices being called for simply cannot be justified in the context of the shaky economic case for expansion.  Research by MORI undertaken for Essex County Council's citizen's panel and announced yesterday (13 June) shows that 69 per cent of people surveyed across the county believe the protection of the countryside, environment and Essex communities are more important than increasing the number of flights from Stansted.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS
John Savident will not now be able to attend the balloon race release due to revised filming schedules.

Further Information/Comment:
Stuart Walker, Runway Ramble Organiser:  01279 850862 or M 07940 521362
Maggie Sutton, SSE Community Coordinator:  07714 767921
Gerry Bigland, Fete and Balloon Race Organiser:  01279 850373
Carol Barbone, Campaign Director, SSE:  0777 552 3091