Gatwick Airport injunction extended by further 12 months to stop environmental protests
The airport's lawyers say there is a "real and imminent risk of blockading, obstruction and disruption" at its site near Crawley
Gatwick Airport will remain covered by a High Court injunction stopping would-be environmental activists from trespassing on its land after a judge ruled it should continue.
In July last year, the airport - the second largest in the UK - was granted protection from what its lawyers described as a "real and imminent risk of blockading, obstruction (and) disruption" at its site near Crawley, West Sussex.
At a hearing today, the airport asked for the injunction to be continued, stating that there remained a "compelling need" for it to remain in place to protect it from groups such as Just Stop Oil (JSO) and Extinction Rebellion.
No one appeared in court to oppose the injunction being extended.
In a ruling, Duncan Atkinson KC, sitting as a deputy High Court judge, said that he was "satisfied" that there remained a "real and immediate risk" to the site and that lifting the injunction would make it a "greater target".
He said this was despite an announcement made by JSO in March, which said it was "hanging up the hi vis".
He said: "This announcement cannot be taken as an unequivocal and final renunciation of direct action.
"It would be premature to rely on this announcement as a basis to vary or discharge the injunction."
He continued: "A number of relevant groups have indicated a change of focus... that does not mean that such organisations or members of such organisations, given the opportunity, would not continue their environmental action."
The injunction will be reviewed again in 12 months.
Timothy Morshead KC, for the airport, said in written submissions that a group of JSO protesters carried out direct action at the site 10 days after the injunction was first granted, but that contempt of court proceedings were not launched as "the process of affixing warning notices" had not been completed.
He continued that there was evidence that there had been a "dramatic reduction" in the number of actual or attempted protests since the injunctions were granted, but that evidence suggested that JSO was "apparently planning a comeback".
He said: "It is, of course, true that time has not stood still in the world of environmental protest.
"Overall, however, it is submitted that the circumstances which justified making the orders last year have not changed in a way that casts doubt on whether there continues to be a compelling need for them."
Gatwick was one of multiple airports across the UK to be granted injunctions last year.
In June, Mr Justice Bourne extended the injunctions for 10 of the sites, including London City, Birmingham, and Manchester, for another 12 months.
A hearing is expected to be held in late July to review the injunction for Heathrow, which was also issued last year.