The company that runs Heathrow today denied that it was trying to block an environmental protest by preventing people from using roads and public transport near the airport.

Launching its High Court bid for an injunction to prevent the demonstration at the west London airport, BAA said the legal move was only aimed at protesters who were acting unlawfully.

BAA says that its attempt to ban the Camp for Climate Action, planned for August 14 to 21, is aimed at protecting the airport and the safety of passengers and staff “against the planned direct action by environmental activists”.

But protesters have branded the move “the mother of all injunctions” and claim BAA has resorted to “legal bullying” by trying to extend the ban to people using roads and public transport around the airport.

One group named in the injunction, Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN), has accused BAA of trying to ban as many as five million people from using underground and main line trains as well as roads around the airport.

BAA’s solicitor, Tim Lawson-Cruttenden, told Mrs Justice Swift that the injunction request only concerned four named defendants: Joss Garman, Leo Murray, John Stewart and Geraldine Nicholson.

He emphasised that the injunction was only intended to include general members of four named protest groups - Plane Stupid, Airportwatch, No Third Runway Action Group and HACAN – if they were also acting unlawfully.

“A person does not become subject to this order unless he or she comes within the definition of protester and until he or she acts by unlawful means.

“So, rather than bind millions of people, we are only trying to bind those people who wish to obstruct or prevent us from lawfully using the airport,” Mr Lawson-Cruttenden said, adding that there had been a “misunderstanding” about how the proposed injunction would affect road and rail users.

Nicholas Blake, QC, for the defendants, questioned the need for the proceedings as, he said, three of the named individuals had given undertakings not to trespass or cause nuisance and the fourth would be on holiday during the protest.

A BAA Heathrow spokesman said: “During the summer holiday period up to 200,000 people pass through Heathrow daily, including many families and children. It is these people who would suffer as a result of any unlawful or irresponsible behaviour aimed at disrupting the smooth operation of the airport."

The case continues, and is expected to conclude on Friday.

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