Heathrow expansion

[MegaSteve]

chances Zac Goldsmith winning the Richmond Seat as an independent? Interesting that he wants to make the election a referendum on Heathrow - except his prime opponent will be the LibDems - who also opposed Heathrow. So the differentiator betyween ZacG and the LDs will be Brexit - with ZG Leave and LDs Remain. Richmond 70% Remain

I believe it has been mooted the tories won't be putting forward a candidate... From folk I know, that reside in the area, Goldsmith is highly regarded and would most probably win irrespective of what colour rosette he chose to wear... Farron can dream/plot all he wants but they simply don't have someone of sufficient calibre to step up and challenge...

If Goldsmith hadn't allowed Cameron/central office take over his campaign I believe he would've been London's new Mayor... Kinda makes me laugh that Cameron believed he was a winner... Well, he had the W part right...

 

[Lord Tyrion]

UKIP have just announced they wont stand, Labour may as well not stand, save the embarrassment of losing their deposit in a safe Tory seat. The Libs are potentially going to look very silly if they stand against Goldsmith and get hammered. They need to do some very quick local polling and decide whether standing is worthwhile. If not then everyone stands down, he gets voted in on a single issue and no party looks daft.

The Libs can shout all they like about Brexit but I would be surprised if the locals hear them and follow. This is a safe Tory seat with a Tory independent standing on a single issue platform. He will walk it.

 

[MegaSteve]

UKIP have just announced they wont stand, Labour may as well not stand, save the embarrassment of losing their deposit in a safe Tory seat. The Libs are potentially going to look very silly if they stand against Goldsmith and get hammered. They need to do some very quick local polling and decide whether standing is worthwhile. If not then everyone stands down, he gets voted in on a single issue and no party looks daft.

The Libs can shout all they like about Brexit but I would be surprised if the locals hear them and follow. This is a safe Tory seat with a Tory independent standing on a single issue platform. He will walk it.

Prior to Goldsmith I believe it was considered a 'safe' Liberal seat...

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Ah, I didn't know that. After the last election I doubt any Liberal seat is safe. They are still in the naughty corner.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Ah, I didn't know that. After the last election I doubt any Liberal seat is safe. They are still in the naughty corner.

Methinks that tuition fees may not be at the forefront of a lot of voters minds at the moment - given the impact that Brexit could well have (and already is having) on the education sector.

 

[Captainron]

I was down at Kempton Park for work a while back and the planes overhead were constant. A few of us said that it would be mental to live there. Not one of us would take the opportunity to live near Heathrow or on the flight path within 10 miles. We all said it was due for expansion and that things would only get worse. I think it does need another runway. Heathrow IS the main UK airport and should always be. Gatwick is on the wrong side of London to do that job.
When Saffas/Aussies and Kiwis come over for their gaps they get what we call the 'Heathrow injection' (you come in slim and tanned and end up fat and pasty after living here for a while

 

[RGDave]

Couldn't they just bulldoze some of Reading and build a 300mph tilting train straight to B'ham or Manchester and London Euston?

Sorted.

 

[Radbourne2010]

I'm late to this but please note China has built 6 'Hub' Airports since the 1st enquiry into a third runway at Heathrow. We are a very small but stratigically important country placed ideally between the American continent, Middle East, Europe & Far East. Last year Heathrow was overtaken by Dubai in passenger numbers. They aren't governed by Green Eco regulations & haven't signed up to International Treaties as we in UK have.

Unless we step up our game we will even be over taken by Frankfurt & CDG which would strike terror into anyone in U.K. aviation industry.

Build it, make it World Class, make it the most Eco-friendly runway & airport in the world & force the world's airlines into landing at Eco-friendly airports & most importantly, ours!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm late to this but please note China has built 6 'Hub' Airports since the 1st enquiry into a third runway at Heathrow. We are a very small but stratigically important country placed ideally between the American continent, Middle East, Europe & Far East. Last year Heathrow was overtaken by Dubai in passenger numbers. They aren't governed by Green Eco regulations & haven't signed up to International Treaties as we in UK have.

Unless we step up our game we will even be over taken by Frankfurt & CDG which would strike terror into anyone in U.K. aviation industry.

Build it, make it World Class, make it the most Eco-friendly runway & airport in the world & force the world's airlines into landing at Eco-friendly airports & most importantly, ours!

Both of which have been built on dead flat green-field sites with vast scope for expansion.

 

[Papas1982]

I'm late to this but please note China has built 6 'Hub' Airports since the 1st enquiry into a third runway at Heathrow. We are a very small but stratigically important country placed ideally between the American continent, Middle East, Europe & Far East. Last year Heathrow was overtaken by Dubai in passenger numbers. They aren't governed by Green Eco regulations & haven't signed up to International Treaties as we in UK have.

Unless we step up our game we will even be over taken by Frankfurt & CDG which would strike terror into anyone in U.K. aviation industry.

Build it, make it World Class, make it the most Eco-friendly runway & airport in the world & force the world's airlines into landing at Eco-friendly airports & most importantly, ours!

China is a red herring IMO. There is a reason they get things done when they want. And I'm not sure many of us who are pro expansion would wish to give up any of our freedom we enjoy to be governed as the people there are.

Much like the the way things in places such as Dubai are also built o quickly too.

 

[CliveW]

Boris Island in the Thames Estuary is not such a bad idea and would affect fewer people.

You are correct. The biggest increase in pollution from a third runway at Heathrow will be from the increase in the number of vehicles not aircraft.

 

[Radbourne2010]

I quite agree, however International Air Traffic by it's own definition is International. Companies look for strategic Hubs to fly into & out of as to Container companies. The mere fact one country has an appalling human rights past & present and the other hires in vast swathes of 'slave' labour to build its airports, skyscrapers, roads, etc. doesn't mean a thing to them in comparison to landing charges & free airspace.

Maybe we should build a wind farm in Hounslow & fly to Frankfurt, Schiphol or CDG from Stansted/Robin Hood/John Lennon/Birmingham, etc. for International flights

China is a red herring IMO. There is a reason they get things done when they want. And I'm not sure many of us who are pro expansion would wish to give up any of our freedom we enjoy to be governed as the people there are.

Much like the the way things in places such as Dubai are also built o quickly too.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Whilst I can understand some of the dislike from those nearby of extending Heathrow, as someone who would be directly affected by a Boris Island airport I would welcome the jobs and opportunities it would create for the whole of the area. I wonder if those Heathrow nearby's anti's who advocate BI fully realise that the whole idea of BI was to replace Heathrow and not add to it. If BI went ahead, the jobs and businesses that would move or close might have them wishing for what they had.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Radbourne - That is not far off from what we can do here in the NE. I fly from Newcastle and can choose Heathrow, CDG, Schipol, Dusseldorf or Dubai as my hub. That is part of the battle for BA and the govt, keeping Heathrow as a key option. (personal preference is Schipol so that is what I use unless the price is out of sight)

 

[MegaSteve]

They are intending to plant some additional trees elsewhere to offset the pollution at Heathrow...
Very comforting for those having to live with the pollution... Not!

 

[MegaSteve]

Whilst I can understand some of the dislike from those nearby of extending Heathrow, as someone who would be directly affected by a Boris Island airport I would welcome the jobs and opportunities it would create for the whole of the area. I wonder if those Heathrow nearby's anti's who advocate BI fully realise that the whole idea of BI was to replace Heathrow and not add to it. If BI went ahead, the jobs and businesses that would move or close might have them wishing for what they had.

Boris Island might happen who knows... Though not in our lifetime... The extra jobs is a bit of a myth... Many businesses, close to Heathrow, have disappeared over the years many of them selling off to developers/investors... With the land morphing into warehousing requiring less staff or hotels providing minimum wage employment... Or, plot just being left empty waiting for the nod [for the third runway] to be sold off for good profit...

Plenty of freight/cargo still comes into Heathrow why can't this redirected to Manston [which is underused] leaving plenty of 'slots' for passenger movements...

 

[Lord Tyrion]

They are intending to plant some additional trees elsewhere to offset the pollution at Heathrow...
Very comforting for those having to live with the pollution... Not!

I've never worked out how planting trees in northern Scotland can help absorb pollution in and around London. A mixture of tax dodge and total phooeey.

 

[Rooter]

I've never worked out how planting trees in northern Scotland can help absorb pollution in and around London. A mixture of tax dodge and total phooeey.

most transatlantic flights go direct north toward scotland and then head toward south greenland..

 

[Deleted member 18645]

most transatlantic flights go direct north toward scotland and then head toward south greenland..

They actually tend to fly west towards Bristol and the south coast of Ireland before heading across the Atlantic.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Boris Island might happen who knows... Though not in our lifetime... The extra jobs is a bit of a myth... Many businesses, close to Heathrow, have disappeared over the years many of them selling off to developers/investors... With the land morphing into warehousing requiring less staff or hotels providing minimum wage employment... Or, plot just being left empty waiting for the nod [for the third runway] to be sold off for good profit...

Plenty of freight/cargo still comes into Heathrow why can't this redirected to Manston [which is underused] leaving plenty of 'slots' for passenger movements...

If Heathrow wasn't there where would those who are involved with it work? Likewise if BI was built, you would need staff to work it. Considering the parlous emplyment state in Kent, I'm sure those moaning would be out shouted by those taking work and thew money it brings in for everyone in the area.