New Runway!!

[lambo17841]

Just be put in the news nothing to be decided till winter 17-18 following further public consultation.
What a joke,in other words not until after the next election in 2020.

John in Seaford

[Big Eric]

Popham?

[farnboroughrob]

This does drive me mad, just get on and build both LHR and LGW. Can anybody explain why each airport just does not go through the normal planning process? I know it will take years but will eventually succeed. They are private companies so what has it got to do with the government? Unless the tax payer is going to pick up some of the bill?

[vulcan558]

What new runway and at what Airbase.?

[bigfatron]

How much of a runway could they have already built with the cost of all these planning enquiries and consultations to date?

[Southendnick]

Heathrow will be announced as the first then in 2025 Gatwick then 2030 Brum.

[boff180]

Not according to this, no announcement today

Airports expansion decision to be made next week
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37692903

[lambo17841]

Reading the article recommendation next week,then public consultation,then MPs will have a vote next winter then court cases will go on for ever against the planning application.
Then put it off until after the 2020 election and let the next pm deal with the agro which could be Boris who will change his mind about where many times before then.

John in Seaford

[Beefy]

This does drive me mad, just get on and build both LHR and LGW. Can anybody explain why each airport just does not go through the normal planning process? I know it will take years but will eventually succeed. They are private companies so what has it got to do with the government? Unless the tax payer is going to pick up some of the bill?

There is a thing called POLLUTION and another thing called PEOPLE'S HEALTH. Unsurprisingly aircraft engines produce some rather nasty chemicals and rather a large amount of POLLUTION. The decision has been delayed whilst an independent company (Cambridge University - with no links to or payments received from any company, the government etc. etc. that may have the slightest interest in increasing capacity at Gatwick or Heathrow) conducted a lengthy study using actual data-logging equipment (rather than computer modelling as used in all previous studies) to gain an accurate assessment of the impacts of adding a 3rd runway at Heathrow would have on PEOPLE'S HEALTH who live in the affected area of the airport.

What makes you think that Private Companies can "just get on with it"? Are you aware that a large amount of the infrastructure in the area will have to be re-built? Roads for one thing are going to have to be moved and re-built, gas, water and sewer services, electricity cables will all have to be moved that won't be paid for by the "Private Companies", this will all be paid for by subsidies from local councils to the Highway's Agency, Thames Water etc. and will therefore have come indirectly from the Government - Ta dah!!!

So it actually has rather a lot to do with the Government. Heaven forbid that Private Companies could just do what they like...

[The Baron]

There is a thing called POLLUTION and another thing called PEOPLE'S HEALTH. Unsurprisingly aircraft engines produce some rather nasty chemicals and rather a large amount of POLLUTION. The decision has been delayed whilst an independent company (Cambridge University - with no links to or payments received from any company, the government etc. etc. that may have the slightest interest in increasing capacity at Gatwick or Heathrow) conducted a lengthy study using actual data-logging equipment (rather than computer modelling as used in all previous studies) to gain an accurate assessment of the impacts of adding a 3rd runway at Heathrow would have on PEOPLE'S HEALTH who live in the affected area of the airport.

What makes you think that Private Companies can "just get on with it"? Are you aware that a large amount of the infrastructure in the area will have to be re-built? Roads for one thing are going to have to be moved and re-built, gas, water and sewer services, electricity cables will all have to be moved that won't be paid for by the "Private Companies", this will all be paid for by subsidies from local councils to the Highway's Agency, Thames Water etc. and will therefore have come indirectly from the Government - Ta dah!!!

So it actually has rather a lot to do with the Government. Heaven forbid that Private Companies could just do what they like...

So what would be your solution?

[bigfatron]

This does drive me mad, just get on and build both LHR and LGW. Can anybody explain why each airport just does not go through the normal planning process? I know it will take years but will eventually succeed. They are private companies so what has it got to do with the government? Unless the tax payer is going to pick up some of the bill?

There is a thing called POLLUTION and another thing called PEOPLE'S HEALTH. Unsurprisingly aircraft engines produce some rather nasty chemicals and rather a large amount of POLLUTION. The decision has been delayed whilst an independent company (Cambridge University - with no links to or payments received from any company, the government etc. etc. that may have the slightest interest in increasing capacity at Gatwick or Heathrow) conducted a lengthy study using actual data-logging equipment (rather than computer modelling as used in all previous studies) to gain an accurate assessment of the impacts of adding a 3rd runway at Heathrow would have on PEOPLE'S HEALTH who live in the affected area of the airport.

What makes you think that Private Companies can "just get on with it"? Are you aware that a large amount of the infrastructure in the area will have to be re-built? Roads for one thing are going to have to be moved and re-built, gas, water and sewer services, electricity cables will all have to be moved that won't be paid for by the "Private Companies", this will all be paid for by subsidies from local councils to the Highway's Agency, Thames Water etc. and will therefore have come indirectly from the Government - Ta dah!!!

So it actually has rather a lot to do with the Government. Heaven forbid that Private Companies could just do what they like...

I don't have an issue with the process per se, but rather it seems to go constantly in circles. If expanding Heathrow and/or Gatwick isn't the solution then that's fine. However, there is obviously a huge capacity problem so why not get on with putting in that capacity somewhere else besides those two existing sites? And lord knows with this Brexit lark then we're probably going to need it at some point in the foreseeable.

[farnboroughrob]

I doubt if anybody would say there is going to be no pollution, noise etc that goes without saying. This has become a political football that nobody wants to take any responsibility of. Perhaps there should be a referendum of everybody within 30 miles of the airport? If we want to continue having a wide range of worldwide destinations served from London there has to be a capacity increase. London is perfectly situation to be Europe's hub but in LHR is not expanded that will go elsewhere taking jobs with it. Expansion elsewhere in the UK will not make any difference.
A new airport is out of the question. The cost would be massive in just relocating all the staff and ancillary business from LHR. Anyway it would be impossible for LHR to close, that would be the countries biggest ever legal battle.
The sensible option is a third (7th actually) runway at LHR, where the infrastructure already is.

[CJS]

Given that the cost will be so truly huge, here's an idea - don't bother expanding anything. Seriously, let people transit through Schiphol, Frankfurt-am-Main or wherever. How long would it take to recoup the cost of expanding an already massively busy airport and start turning a profit? I don't know but I imagine rather a long time.

Plus bearing in mind the environmental costs, do we really need to bother?

Just another viewpoint, I don't know really what I think about it to be honest.

[ericbee123]

Build HS3(!!!) up the side of M1 and a expand East Midlands, which is in the middle of nowhere relatively. Just over an hour away from Central London by HS3 !! Better option than Heathrow and the rest of country benefits too.

Rename it New Schiphol as well or London Midlands if you must.

[paullangford]

It's a done deal anyway for Heathrow, this is all a smokescreen.
They're starting the new rail tunnel soon, the station under T5 is already there as a carcass for HS2.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/trave ... ation.html

We've had the leaflets through our doors this week about the upcoming tunneling for 2017.

http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2016/03/ ... 4th-april/

....I don't think they would be starting with this if the new runway was a non starter.

[Private Custard]

If either Heathrow or Gatwick get a new runway, it should also get an accompanying new terminal all for itself, which only services travellers that have arrived by public transport. It's the only way it can work. The M25 is an absolute mess, traffic-wise, as it is, that corner of the country just can't take any more.

I drive for a living, and I always attempt to be clear of the M25 by 2pm, otherwise the day is screwed. When it takes five hours to get from Redhill to Corby, you know the area really is at capacity. I mean, Christ, I can drive to Stirling in that time!

[bigfatron]

Given that the cost will be so truly huge, here's an idea - don't bother expanding anything. Seriously, let people transit through Schiphol, Frankfurt-am-Main or wherever. How long would it take to recoup the cost of expanding an already massively busy airport and start turning a profit? I don't know but I imagine rather a long time.

Plus bearing in mind the environmental costs, do we really need to bother?

Just another viewpoint, I don't know really what I think about it to be honest.

To be honest with living 'up north' I already do transit through Schipol if I can for long haul. The extra flight time from Manchester is usually more than made up with not having to go through the hassle of baggage reclaim, trudging over to another terminal and facing another check-in and security screening to get air-side again.

[neilos]

You can bet your life that, when LHR get their extra runway, it'll get handed to BA as their own 'mini Heathrow'

[flashman8]

but why expand LHR and Gatwick when they could expand airports further up north..........................................

[john001]

but why expand LHR and Gatwick when they could expand airports further up north........

More airlines want to fly to London, more people want to go to London. For example, Manchester is no where near capacity.

[iainpeden]

I always thought Alconbury and Upper Heyford should have been considered. Neither approach over large centres of population, both within an hour by car to central London, both close to main rail routes.

Thank you - here's my £25,000,000 bill.

[capercaillie]

What happens when we run out of oil soon and the runways are oversize for electric and solar powered people carriers?

[Stagger2]

Fear Not!....Airlander will have made it's third flight by then....probably?

[Pat Murphy]

I always thought Alconbury and Upper Heyford should have been considered. Neither approach over large centres of population, both within an hour by car to central London, both close to main rail routes.

Thank you - here's my £25,000,000 bill.

Been saying that for years so hands off my £25,000,000 Seriously, Alconbury is right by the A1M and the East coast mainline isn't far away, Upper Heyford is an hour up the M40...spur off to HS2? Put the public transport links in to both and there's 2 runways for the price of a lot less than one I bet. Now about that £25 million, My account details are 4756.......etc etc

[Brevet Cable]

What happens when we run out of oil soon and the runways are oversize for electric and solar powered people carriers?

Ah , but just think how big a solar panel array you could fit within the environs of Heathrow & Gatwick airports.
Or better still , wind turbines......they'd soon get the NIMBYs complaining about noise levels !