LAW-abiding residents showed how serious they are about preventing expansion at Heathrow Airport by taking part in a direct action training.
Nearly 50 people who are opposed to a third runway and the impact it would have on life in Hillingdon attended the session yesterday (Sunday).
The training was given by Seeds for Change, an organisation which has several years experience in offering direct action training sessions. Amongst those who attended were individual members of HACAN and NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group).
John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, said: "Although neither HACAN nor NoTRAG are direct action organisations, what was clear from yesterdayÕs session was that the most unlikely people are prepared to take direct action if thatÕs what it takes to stop expansion at Heathrow.
"Although there were some younger people there, the typical person who attended was over 40 and female."
The residents learnt about the legal consequences of direct action. They also role-played various direct action situations such as invading the AGM of an aviation company.
They expect to organise future meetings where they will plan specific actions they will take if the Government gives the green light to expansion at Heathrow when it announces its decision next month.
Mr Stewart added: "We believe we have won the arguments against expansion. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have said that the arguments do not stand up and that they would scrap the expansion plans.
"But yesterday showed that, if Gordon Brown and Geoff Hoon plough on with their expansion plans regardless of the facts, they will face direct action from the unlikeliest of people."
