BAA says Heathrow injunction fears 'misplaced'

LONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) Airports company BAA went to the High Court today seeking an injunction against environmentalists planning a week of demonstrations against climate change and a planned new runway at Heathrow.

There were fears the injunction would cover millions of members of groups including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the National Trust, who come under an umbrella organisation called Airport Watch.

But BAA, which says the demonstrations this month could threaten the safety of passengers and staff at the airport, said the injunction was aimed mainly at four people.

In a case which is expected to last until Friday, solicitor Tim Lawson-Cruttenden, representing BAA, told the court the order focused on the named individuals: Leo Murray, Joss Garman, Geraldine Nicholson and John Stewart.

He denied the injunction, which seeks to prevent people from demonstrating near Heathrow's grounds, would cover millions of potential protesters.

''We are only trying to bind those people who wish to obstruct or prevent us from lawfully using the airport,'' said Lawson-Cruttenden.

The requested ban has been branded ''the mother of all injunctions'' by John Stewart, the chairman of an action group called Hacan.

Up to 5,000 demonstrators are planning to hold a Camp for Climate Action at the airport between August 14 and 21.

Environmentalists fear the injunction will cover protesters' movements on the Underground near Heathrow and parts of the M4 and M25 motorways if they fail to give 24 hours' notice of a protest, the groups said.

However, Lawson-Cruttenden said this was not the case. There had, he said, been a ''misunderstanding'' about the order sought.

He said a person would not be affected by the order unless he or she came ''within the definition of protester'' and acted in a way that deterred BAA from carrying on its activities.

However, the need for any injunction was questioned by Nicholas Blake for the defendants. He told the court three of the named individuals had given undertakings not to trespass or cause a nuisance. The other one, he said, was away with her children during August.

The hearing continues.

REUTERS AK BST0110