The RSPB has joined a coalition of environmental charities and campaigning groups to fight the planned expansion of Heathrow Airport which it says will lead to a significant increase in carbon emissions and contribute to climate change.

The centre-piece of the protest will be a fortress built on a area of land which is within the planned perimeter of Heathrow’s third runway.

Last year, a coalition – including the RSPB, Greenpeace, the Woodland Trust, and World Development Movement – purchased an acre of land in the designated area near Sipson village and gave ownership to 60, 000 ordinary people in an effort to stall the legal process involved in the airport expansion.

The £7 billion runway project has been given the green light by the government and is due to be built in 2015, although strong opposition toward the plan is coming from opposition parties.

The campaign coalition is asking for design submissions for an “impenetrable fortress” to be built as soon as possible.

The designs will be judged by a panel including sculptor Rachel Whiteread, engineer Professor Neil Thomas and comedian Alistair McGowan.

John Sauven of Greenpeace, prepared the ground for a battle: “If the bulldozers roll they will face a fortress occupied by a massive movement of ordinary people who oppose Heathrow expansion.”

The Department of Transport is standing by the decision made last January to go ahead with the project. Former transport secretary Geoff Hoon said the third runway would create an additional 60, 000 jobs for UK citizens and ensure that Britain remains a key player in the world business market.

But the RSPB, Greenpeace, councils, citizens and various other environmental groups maintain that the construction of a third runway will damage wildlife in the area and increase pollution and congestion.

By Taylor Turner

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