A Fallowfield climate change protester has vowed to take more action to try to stop Manchester Airport expanding – despite being hauled before the courts.
Nine men and women admitted blocking the entrance to the World Freight Centre in protest at plans to knock down homes on Hasty Lane, Ringway, to make way for a cargo shed.
However, Amanda Walters, 23, of Derby Road, Fallowfield, and Mark Haworth, 24, of Great Western Street, Moss Side, denied obstructing the highway but were found guilty after a two-day trial.
Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard how the pair had climbed pyramid-like tent structures and blocked the entrance to the cargo centre during a protest at the airport in May.
Peter Johnson, who lives in one of the threatened homes, gave evidence at the trial.
He told how he had campaigned against the expansion plans, believing them to be ‘economically and environmentally unjustified’.
He said: "There was very strong local opposition. While there were only eight or nine residents in Hasty Lane, there was a petition of about 1,000 names against the planning applications. Martin Eakins, Lib Dem councillor for Northenden, also took to the stand to tell of his frustration at the failure of efforts to force a judicial review.
He said:"We were advised that our chances of success were less than 50 per cent and, more importantly, it was going to cost about £10,000 which no-one could afford to lose.
"I feel that all democratic avenues were exhausted and I think it is reasonable to say that the only way to achieve carbon reductions through traditional politics in this case was closed."
District Judge Mark Hadfield fined Miss Walters £250 and ordered her to pay £465 costs plus a £15 surcharge. Mr Haworth was fined £175 with £465 costs and a £15 surcharge.
Speaking after the case, Miss Walters said they had pleaded not guilty on the grounds that airport expansion would have ‘significant’ impact on local homes and globally on climate change.
She said: "The judge accepted that our concerns were legitimate and that other means of making our views heard had been tried.
"While the council continues to impose expansion of the airport on to local people, we will continue to oppose it."
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Inspirational. Well done for taking action and vowing to continue in the face of sadly, very adverse circumstances - why is it that the council will not include the airport in their Climate Change Action Plan when it is the single biggest source of emissions in the region and, as statistics prove, actually drains money AWAY from Manchester?
Reducing the amount of freight traffic will allow the little cute bunnies that roam the traffic islands around the depot to live for a bit longer. Surely that is reason enough...