These protesters are upholding our democracy when the rest of us are too busy: the government is continuing to build roads and airports while claiming to be dealing with climate change without consulting us. Who is consulted about new runways, new roads, new airports? These things directly affect thousands of people living close by; and millions when you consider their effect on the environment. If my taxes have gone towards supporting these 'official protesters' I consider it money well spent.

Nicola , London , UK

It's about time people started protesting to save the planet - soon there won't be any planet to go visit for a holiday. In ten years time these protesters will be seen as heroes - not as the villians they are depicted as now. This country, amongst others, suffers too much from the attitude 'I'm alright Jack so why should I care?' But in ten, twenty, thirty years down the line money won't have the answers or solve the problems. All those who disagree with this protest do so to cover up their guilty consciences; their venom should be directed at themselves for being complacent about the planet they live on.

jackie, colchester,

While I agree with Derek Clifton, it's the "holier than thou" attitude that I find so offensive. They claim to be saving the planet on behalf of the stupid, non-caring and selfish rest of us. They should buy themselves a mirror.

johnnt, Bourne End, UK

I saw in another news column a young lady of 20 years old suggesting she was a 'professional protester' and had recently spent 4 months in Scotland outside the naval base - nice work if you can get it !!! I wonder how she earns enough to buy food and drinks ?? Or are the tax payer subsidising her extended camping holiday???
But I have to agree with John's main thrust, camping won't change the plans, it's just a jolly and this is much more important than the building of new airports or runways, it is about the future of life as we know it JIm...

Chris, Surrey,

Any new airport should be at the coast pointing out to sea. The government should not allow peoples houses to be destroyed for the sake of a few more wretched aircraft . \homes are more important than holidaymakers pleasures. Any new airport should be located at the coast pointing out to sea. The government has no right to destroy peoples houses just for another wretched runway to satisfy drunken holidaymakers.

John Parker, Leicester,

So the police allowed them to have water laid on land they were squatting on, contary to the owners wishes!
How many are professional agitatorson benefits?
Who pays for the necessary police cover?
It seems the usual British approach, go for the easy targets like overstaying a parking meter or catching motorists on camera exceeding the limit by a small margin, but everyone else can cause mayhem.

James, London,

I saw in another news column a young lady of 20 years old suggesting she was a 'professional protester' and had recently spent 4 months in Scotland outside the naval base - nice work if you can get it !!! I wonder how she earns enough to buy food and drinks ?? Or are the tax payer subsidising her extended camping holiday???
But I have to agree with John's main thrust, camping won't change the plans, it's just a jolly and this is much more important than the building of new airports or runways, it is about the future of life as we know it JIm...

Chris, Surrey,

Heathrow....more like 'skidrow' with the well-worn, rasterfarian haired, scruffy clothed, dole-scrounging lay-abouts in a protesting type role.
When I see there 'articles' on television strutting their stuff and estimate the cost of policing them, together with the amount of cash each is claiming from the tax-payers purse for work-dodgers....how do they get away with it; I though they had to be available for work when called. Why doesn't someone call them....there is an awful lot of other rubbish waiting for collection!

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire, England

John, I'm sure Ghandi would agree with you.

Sal, London,

Let#'s face facts what would they change by sitting on the grass waving placards at planes that fly overhead? We didn't get the freedoms we enjoy now by our forefathers sitting waving placards, they chopped people's heads off and it is long past time we remembered this. The world is not a namby pamby feminist play pen it is a rufty tufty male orientated world where only acting, often very harshly, gets things done.

John, Dundee, UK