DEFIANT climate change activists who are accused of taking part in a demonstration which left planes on the tarmac and caused delays at Heathrow Airport

Thirteen members of activist group Plane Stupid allegedly cut a hole in a fence and chained themselves to railings on the north runway on July 13 in a protest against airport expansion.

The group staged a protest outside Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in west London, last week, and a statement was read on their behalf.

One of the accused, Sheila Menon, read: "Some of us are part of the local community that is already feeling the hugely negative impact of existing air traffic from Heathrow by way of noise and air pollution, and blight on the area."

She added that the UK had more than enough capacity to deal with the "ordinary people" taking their annual holidays, and that airport expansion is being driven by a "minority of wealthy frequent flyers".

Menon accused the Government of failing to act responsibly and democratically.

The activists are charged with aggravated trespass and entering a security restricted area of an aerodrome.

On July 13, the demonstration caused delays for passengers around the world and 22 flights out of the airport were cancelled.

It came after a long-awaited report recommended a new runway should be built at Heathrow rather than Gatwick.

After three years of investigation, the Airports Commission said Heathrow was best placed to provide "urgently required" capacity.

But environmentalists warned that building a new runway there will make it harder to reduce air pollution and climate change emissions.

The defendants were all released on bail on the condition not to enter Heathrow or the area considered to be its perimeter.

A trial date was set for January 18 and is expected to last two weeks.

 

The accused are:

 

Rebecca Holly Sanderson, 27, of Newton Road, Machynlleth, Powys

 

Richard Steven Hawkins, 32, and Kara Lauren Moses, 31, both of Heol y Doll, Machynlleth, Powys

 

Ella Gilbert, 23, of Magdalen Street, Norwich

 

Melanie Strickland, 32, of Borwick Avenue, Waltham Forest

 

Danielle Louise Paffard, 28, of Blenhiem Grove, Peckham, south-east London

 

Graham Edward James Thompson, 42, of Durlston Road, Hackney, north-east London

 

Sheila Menon, 43, of Pellerin Road, Hackney

 

Cameron Joseph Kaye, 23, Edward Thacker, 26, Alistair Craig Tamlit, 27, and Sam Sender, 23, all of Kenwood Close, Sipson, West Drayton, west London

 

Robert Anthony Basto, 67, of Blackborough Road, Reigate, Surrey