AN application to live-stream a trial at the High Court on the expansion of Heathrow was today refused.

Justice Hickinbottom ruled that the trial, by five claimants against the Transport Secretary – set to begin on March 11 for two weeks – could not be streamed as the law did not allow for court proceedings to be recorded.

However, the court will seek to provide a large and accessible additional courtroom for people wishing to watch the proceedings but who won’t fit in Court 76. Tweeting from both courtrooms is also to be permitted.

Additionally, on application, screening of the proceedings in other courts around the country will be considered, allowing those from other parts of the country to avoid the cost of attending the hearings in London.

Transcripts of proceedings will also be published.

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Paul McGuinness, chair of the No Third Runway Coalition, representing residents who would be negatively impacted by Heathrow expansion, said: “While we are disappointed with today’s ruling, we welcome several outcomes such as allowing tweeting from the courtroom and potentially permitting screenings of the proceedings in other courts around the country.

Jackie Clark, chair of the Stop Heathrow Expansion group, added:“Many residents who are set to lose their homes will want to follow the proceedings closely but may not be able to physically attend the court for a whole range of reasons.”

There are five claimants in the case: Hillingdon Council (supported by the Mayor of London, the boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond, Wandsworth, Windsor & Maidenhead and Greenpeace UK), Friends of the Earth, Twickenham resident Neil Spurrier and Heathrow Hub Ltd, a rival scheme for expanding Heathrow.