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Residents fight Olympic missile plans
28 June 2012Residents of a London tower block are taking the Ministry of Defence to court in order to prevent it basing air defence missiles on top of their flats during the Olympic Games.
Harrow Community Support, which represents residents of Fred Wigg Tower in Leytonstone, East London, is seeking a judicial review over plans to operate ground-based air defence systems during the games. Missiles will be based on rooftops at six sites around London and guarded by military personnel and armed police 24 hours a day.
During a trial of the air defence systems earlier this year residents were given leaflets explaining what was taking place, but solicitors claim they were not consulted and that the move is a breach of their human right to peacefully enjoy their homes.
Lawyers are seeking an injunction to stop the missiles being used on top of residential buildings and a consultation process involving the residents.
Martin Howe, of solicitors Howe & Co, said: "The security of the Olympics is of course extremely important but could the MoD not find any other way of protecting the Olympic village than by putting the lives of hundreds of innocent council tenants at risk by turning their homes into a military battlefield position?
"The risk of accidental explosion or indeed incoming terrorist attack on the block of flats is now a real issue. Who on earth had heard of Fred Wigg Tower before the MoD brought it to the attention of the world by announcing its intention to station a missile battery on top of the block? There has been zero consultation with the tenants.
"The MoD has had seven years to work out its security plans and it needs to rethink this issue swiftly."
The other sites being considered include the Lexington Building in Tower Hamlets, Blackheath Common, Oxleas Wood, William Girling Reservoir in Enfield, and Barn Hill in Epping Forest.
The government has yet to decide whether it will employ the air defences at all following a trial of systems earlier in the year.
HAVE YOUR SAY
28 June 2012
Wouldn't it be a joy if someone then flew a plane into their flats with all these residents complaining about their rights!
They are there to protect you, you fools!
The White House has had missile batteries on its roof before, it does not make the President more of a target!
This sort of sentiment is destroying my country.Whatever happened to the spirit of the Blitz when people would rejoice at the east end being protected by the RAF?
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
28 June 2012
Is there nothing that Solicitors won't take on, and the rubbish they spout, "turning their homes into a military battlefield position", my backside!
If some lunatic terrorist group crashed a 747 into the Olympic Stadium / Village, how would we look to the rest of the world, if we couldn't do anything about it as Howe & Co had an injunction against the MoD.
They make it sound like we are using council tenants as human shields. Barking!
Rob - Telford
28 June 2012
Rob - Telford.
HEAR HEAR!!
Have to agree with Rob, and some.
I would hope that the MoD would put its assets in the best available spots to defend the area.
Any loony copycat or, more likely "home grown" terrorists ( not Al Quaida, that they are still around is a useful myth spread by government )wanting to create an atrocity are going to go for the easy target, civilians, not a tower with SAM's and round the clock military and police guard and surveillance!
I rather think that the military have rather more idea of how to protect the Olympics than a politically correct solicitor obsessed with human rights.
What about the rights of the people in the stadium and village!?
Interestingly, a news item a few nights back spoke of an intelligence source saying that there have been more links to terror groups investigated in that borough than anywhere else in Europe.
Just how many on benefits living in said towers I wonder? Not giving a jot about this country?
Unlike people like Rob who has served this country from reading his posts over the months.
Respect.
Daniele Mandelli - Guildford
28 June 2012
Surely having a missile battery on your roof makes your home one of the safest places to be!! Any would-be hostile aircraft isn't going to crash on your home when struck by a SAM fired from it!! Hope these people aren't receiving legal aid to mount this campaign!
Hereman - Wirral, England
29 June 2012
Agree with the previous comments; what is wrong with having a protected missile battery on your roof?
Look at it this way free 24h security for your flat...Military personnel & armed Police; no-one's going to rob you, at least for the Olympics anyway.
Laskovar - UK
03 July 2012
They are probably worried the missiles will interfere with the reception of eastenders, \
My god, cant they see they are there for their protection as much as anyone else's.
Tim Dainton - Romsey
04 July 2012
Are they muslims by any remote chance?
greenpen - Norfolk