An unusual piece of campaigning from me as in general I don’t actively promote specific campaigns.

Airplot is a small piece of land acquired by Greenpeace, in the village of Sipson, on the edge of London’s Heathrow Airport. If Heathrow’s third runway goes ahead, both Airplot and Sipson would be destroyed. You can find more details of what Airplot is about here.

So far, an incredible 77,500 people have signed up as beneficial owners to Airplot, along with Greenpeace, Greenpeace, Emma Thompson, Alistair McGowan and Zac Goldsmith. The target is to reach 100,000 beneficial owners by 1st May. Being a beneficial owner costs nothing but makes life far more difficult if the land has to be aquired by the government (or its agents) to build Heathrow’s Third Runway.

If Heathrow expands, Sipson and the surrounding area (homes, farmland and jobs) would be completely destroyed and the airport would become the single biggest source of climate pollution in the country. Although the current government’s plans for Heathrow received a major setback in the courts last month (see here and here) the battle is not over; the project has to be completely scrapped.

If the incoming government on 6th May tries to restart the project, Greenpeace will continue challenging the proposals through the planning system and if necessary by peaceful direct action.

I signed up as a beneficial owner a long time ago because the Third Runway is something I feel very strongly against, both from an environmental standpoint and because I am far from convinced the suggested expansion of air transport capacity is required.

Will you also help the environment and support Londoners by becoming a beneficial owner: an Airplotter? There’s just three weeks left to do this; when the deeds are finalised on 1st May the names of all Airplotters will be included and everyone will be issued with a certificate of beneficial ownership.

Sign up here.