Heathrow protest: Chaos as climate change protesters block tunnel and bring traffic to a standstill

Climate change protesters have blockaded a motorway tunnel near Heathrow Airport in protest at a third runway.

Activists used a vehicle to block the tunnel leading to the airport before chaining themselves to it and lying down in the road on Tuesday morning.

The blue car was draped with a banner which read “no new runways”.

Police were at the scene shortly before 8.30am and the protest was brought to an end three hours later.

The drivers of two other vehicles - both men - used to help block the tunnel were arrested, while officers worked to remove three people locked to the third car, police said.

The two men and a woman who were chained to the car were eventually removed by officers and also arrested. One of them - a man - was taken to hospital, while the other four were taken into custody.

The protest was staged by campaign group Rising Up, which works to tackle climate change, with a video streamed live on its Facebook page from inside the tunnel.

Activist Simon Bramwell who was involved in the protest described a consultation process for the proposal for the airport's expansion as "illegitimate and undemocratic".

He said: "This blockade is our contribution to the consultation: a third runway is a disastrous option that will lead to climate chaos.

"I look upon my niece and nephew, upon the children who will inherit the future we are creating right now and my conscience tells me to act.

"I am breaking conditions imposed on me by the courts, following road blockades in November but the Government is not listening to the science or to our concerns. They have left us with no alternative but to keep taking action.

"We will not stop until plans to build another runway are fully and finally shut down"

A plan to build a third runway at Heathrow was chosen in October as the Government's preferred option for increasing capacity in south-east England.

An additional 260,000 take-off or landings will be permitted each year from the expanded airport, up from the current cap of 480,000, according to a draft National Policy Statement (NPS) on aviation released last month.

A final NPS is expected to be voted on by Parliament in winter 2017/18, following a consultation.

Photos emerged on social media of a gridlocked section of the M4 Spur on the approach to Terminals Two and Three of the airport.

Motorists described being stuck in "bumper to bumper" traffic because of the demonstration.

Air France employee Ryan McGuire said on Twitter: "Stuck in this #Heathrow traffic. It's bumper to bumper. Anyone know what the protest is about? It was Black Lives Matter last time."

A woman named Josie tweeted: "Heathrow protesters are f****** a********. Ruining people's holidays. There are other ways to protest. You'd get the same result."

Another Twitter user named Rosh said: "Whilst I'm all for movements, protesting at #Heathrow and making people miss their flights doesn't seem like the best way to get support.."

Campaign group Back Heathrow, which supports the airport's expansion, said: "The actions of these protesters are selfish, short-sighted and counter-productive. Most local communities living near Heathrow support expansion and passengers simply want to be able to use the airport in peace.

“This pointless protest will merely aggravate thousands of ordinary people, many of whom simply want to get to work or catch a flight.”

Transport for London wrote on Twitter: "The Heathrow Tunnel (into the airport) is currently blocked due to in impromptu demonstration, traffic is slow on M4 Spur."

A Heathrow spokesman said: "Heathrow airport can confirm that a protest activity is on-going in the in-bound tunnel to Terminals 2 and 3.

"Heathrow supports the right to peaceful protest within the law, but the safety and security of our passengers, aircraft and colleagues together with the smooth running of the operation is paramount.

"Contraflow traffic measures are in place and we are working closely with the authorities to resolve the issue, but advise passengers to allow more time to drive into Terminals 2 and 3."

A Met Police spokesman said: "A road and tunnel at Heathrow Airport blocked following a spontaneous protest has now re-opened.

"At around 8.25am on Tuesday, February 21 police were called to reports of a tunnel near Heathrow Airport has been blocked to traffic by protesters.

"Officers attended the inbound tunnel and found three cars blocking the tunnel, with three protesters locked to one of them.

"The drivers of two of the vehicles- both men - were arrested for obstructing a highway and taken into custody at a west London police station.

"Heathrow officers worked with Heathrow Airport staff to remove the people locked to the third car.

"These two men and one woman were, once removed, arrested on for obstructing a highway.

"One man has been taken to hospital as a precaution; the remaining man and woman have been taken into custody, also at a west London police station.

"The cars have been removed and the tunnel was re-opened around 11.30am."