A group of eco-warriors whose protests were threatening to hold up a £172 million scheme for a new runway at Manchester Airport have failed in a final challenge to a court order that they vacate the site.
The House of Lords has refused to allow them to take their case any further, dismissing their application for leave to appeal against earlier rulings.
The land occupied by the protesters is owned by the National Trust, which has granted a licence to Manchester Airport plc. It contains trees that need to be either lopped or felled in an “obstacle limitation” exercise to clear the flight-path into the proposed new runway.
The latest ruling by the law lords should mean the early removal of the activists. In February they won a reprieve from eviction when the Court of Appeal decided that they could remain on the site pending the outcome of the House of Lords application.
But an early start to work still seems unlikely. When the protesters were granted their reprieve the court was told that because of the danger of disturbing nesting birds, the work is unlikely to commence before the autumn.
Manchester Airport hopes to have the new runway open by spring 2000.
See also:
Flawed judgment Estates Gazette 20 March 1999
PLS News 30/6/99
