Londoners lose Olympic missile fight

10 July 2012

Residents of the Fred Wigg tower in Waltham Forest, London, have lost their fight to prevent the MoD from installing missiles on top of their building during the Olympic Games this summer.

A group of residents had complained that the siting of the missiles breached their human rights and made them a target for terrorism, but the MoD said there was "no credible threat" to the tower as a result of it hosting a battery of Starstreak High Velocity Missiles during the games.

Solicitors for residents had complained that the move would turn the tower into a "military battlefield position", but Mr Justice Haddon-Cave said that residents' "shock, anxiety and worry" had been based on "something of a misapprehension" about the type of missiles to be used and the risks involved and ruled that the MoD's decision was "not susceptible to a sensible challenge".

Residents' complaints that they had not been properly consulted over the plans were also dismissed, with Haddon-Cave saying: "The law and the facts militate against the claim for judicial review. In my judgment the MoD's voluntary engagement with the community and residents in this matter were immaculate."

Two separate air defence missile systems are to be based at six sites around London and guarded by military personnel and armed police 24 hours a day during the games.

Fred Wigg Tower and the Lexington Building in Bow will host the Starstreak High Velocity Missile system, while the larger Rapier missiles will be based at Blackheath Common, William Girling Reservoir, Shooters Hill and Barn Hill.