Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Announced this morning........the proposed new runway at Heathrow has been scrapped and similar proposals for Gatwick & Stansted likewise cancelled. Chalk one up to common sense!
The transport policy of the Labour Government frankly left me cold; for the life of me I could not understand the idea that Heathrow and Gatwick must expand or the UK become a backwater of international air travel. Yes, Heathrow is full and Gatwick & Stansted heading the same way, but the idea that we just have to keep building those airports bigger and bigger is nonsense and showed exactly how the Government had lost the ability to take advice on alternative ideas towards the same goal.
It's all about slots (and at Heathrow, capacity) and at peak times there simply isn't enough runway slots to cope with demand. Capacity at Heathrow in terms of gate availability has long since overspilled and even the opening of T5 has not significantly diminished the waiting time for gates to become free. These demands have led Boris Johnson to call for a new airport in the Thames Estuary to be built, and whilst I have no doubt that technically it could be done, having seen the same thing for myself at Kansai airport in Japan, I'm personally opposed to the project on grounds of cost and location. I doubt very much that the UK could afford to build such an airport - there are simply too many other demands for Government cash - and the proposed site is in the middle of an important seabird habitat. (I'm a member of the RSPB, so such things matter to me.) Most of all, though, I just don't see the need for it: stuck on the tip of the Kent coastline is an already-built airport with the longest runway in the UK capable of taking every type of aeroplane in the world right up to the uber-jumbo Airbus A380. I'm talking, of course, about Manston.
It seems common sense to me that the way forward is to develop Manston into a freight airport and transfer all freight flights into the UK to an airport that is hardly used rather than go the expense of building a new one forty miles up the road. Take away the freight from the existing London airports frees up slots and capacity; Heathrow has a cargo terminal which could then be bulldozed and replaced with extra passenger capacity and the strains imposed on the single runways at Gatwick & Stansted eased significantly. Manston has the capacity to expand the existing passenger terminal by adding to if required and building freight terminals almost anywhere on the huge airfield grounds. The Thanet Way is nearing completion on being dualled all the way to the M2, it wouldn't be a huge engineering project to build a high-speed rail link onto the Ramsgate rail spur, so the infrastructure problems seem relatively easy to overcome. The added job prospects for an unemployment black spot also seem an added bonus, and I'm sure people from Dover would commute there for work. It seems a win/win situation that I hope the new Government will take a serious look at, and I hope to approach Charlie Elphicke about getting local representation to the new Transport Secretary about a project that would give a huge shot in the arm to East Kent as well as address the serious problems facing British airports.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
A second good post from you Andy, you are on al roll....
What will happen to Lydd Airport now ?
Dont want any more flight paths over kent thank you very much.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Lydd airport is a purely commercial matter and I suspect will not be affected by what Andy says.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i thought that lydd was still subject to a public enquiry about enlarging it?
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Andy, I must thumbs down any proposal to increase airports! No thanks!
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Expansion of air traffic is a fact of life that is here to stay, especially as we are an island race; you can bury your head in the sand and hope it goes away or you can establish a pragmatic solution that doesn't destroy the environment. Melissa's comment about not wanting any more air traffic over Kent is valid, but sadly won't happen. Kent is a major inbound air lane to Gatwick and Heathrow and that won't change; at least with Manston a prevailing westerly wind will mean that the approach to Runway 28 (the main runway) will be over the sea. On the occasions when Runway 10 is in use the Thames Estuary would be the major part of the approach.
As for Lydd.....aside from the public enquiry, which I don't know the latest on, the biggest argument I can see against enlarging it is the fact that it's extremely difficult to get to. There is no public transport infrastructure, it's miles from anywhere and the pretentious monicker of 'London Ashford International Airport' is fooling noone, least of all the investors it would need. Also, it's right on the doorstep of the Dungeness RSPB Reserve, and for reasons already stated in the post about a Thames Estuary airport I wouldn't want to see Lydd expand.
True friends stab you in the front.
I have been saying exactly the same thing Andy, Manston as a freight airport would ease pressure at the other main airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, Luton) considerably. It would also bring inward investment ot East Kent and lead to more jobs for the locals, plus bring an influx of new people to the area who in turn would improve the local economy.
If a second runway is required, there is space for it, and noise pollution over the south east would also be dramatically reduced, increased in SE Kent for sure, but not intolerably so.
I think the new airport idea is nothing but a sop to the construction industry.
For me, Manston as the freight terminus is a no brainer. Hopefully the new boys will see it too.
Excellent post. I believe that Manston has the longest runway in the South East (Correct me someone!).
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
better than that bob, longest in the united kingdom.
see the first post on this thread from andy.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
an ex raf station i beliuve.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
It was as RAF Manston the only non commercial airport that could accept a landing by Concorde.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Whilst I agree that Manston should be expanded to include more freight (it already is a freight airport with some passenger flights), I would also like to see the passenger flights expanded a lot too.
Some time later this month - a week or so I believe, Manston will start FLYBE flights to Edinburgh and possibly expand this later.
I believe this will/can prove to be very successful, but only if it is used - in both directions.
I haven't heard of any marketing or promotions that Dover, Thanet, Canterbury or East Kent in general, have been doing to promote this area to anywhere in Scotland.
Not being disresepctful to Thanet, but Canterbury and Dover have three of the most iconic attractions in the whole of England - Canterbury Cathedral (obviously), The White Cliffs of Dover and of course Dover Castle.
Dover (District) itself has more historic sites and attractions than any other coastal Town, from at least Southend to Southampton and probably further afield, but we aren't promoting it at all really - at least not to Scotland: the question is, why not ?
Roger
Probably because the Jocks aren't that bothered about English stuff Roger. It's all part of their psyche mate, and I'm not joking.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Manston is ripe for expansion both with Freight and Domestic flights, although I must say that last year during the summer months in particular it was very noisy at about 23.00hrs at night as the Freight planes flight path went right over our house
I guess that's where double glazing wins over original sash windows!
I would love to see Domestic flights coming into fore again, particulary for me the Dublin flights as I could easily visit my ailing Mum more frequently not to mention enjoying the Craic that Dublin has to offer
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
a bit unfair sid, they do travel down to london now and again to be beaten at football.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
carbon emmisions! carbon emmissions! Anyone here ever heard of carbon emmissions and restricting them? What has increasing air-traffic and air freight-traffic to do with containing carbon emmissions? It must have been all a joke when they talked about carbon emmissions then!
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
Very well reasoned post, Andy.
Hint: Aircraft emit more carbon residues than lorries.