Expansion of Airports
Discussion
Alistair Darling (cant keep a straight face after Blackadder 
) made his airport expansion plans today - doesnt really affect me so not really bothered. However, comment found on the BBC news site:
"New campaign group AirportWatch, which launched last week, said the government should be looking at reducing the amount of air travel as the increased demand simply could not be met. "
Err, are they totally daft? Hang on, they want to convince the British public that going on a plane isnt that good and that we shouldnt go abroad on holiday? Are they daft? Or am I missing a point here?
Does anyone have the slightest idea of what they are talking about?
Cheers,
Paul
) made his airport expansion plans today - doesnt really affect me so not really bothered. However, comment found on the BBC news site: "New campaign group AirportWatch, which launched last week, said the government should be looking at reducing the amount of air travel as the increased demand simply could not be met. "
Err, are they totally daft? Hang on, they want to convince the British public that going on a plane isnt that good and that we shouldnt go abroad on holiday? Are they daft? Or am I missing a point here?
Does anyone have the slightest idea of what they are talking about?
Cheers,
Paul
Don't suppose, by some chance, he's planning to expand all the airports around London and stuff the regional airports? Again? Just to make things that little bit harder for the 70% or so of us who don't live and work in the south east?
Which is a slightly scary figure in itself: 30% or so of the UK population live in the South East of England. Depends how you measure it of course. Ah, the open road!
Which is a slightly scary figure in itself: 30% or so of the UK population live in the South East of England. Depends how you measure it of course. Ah, the open road!
Given the method of discouraging drivers and flyers from using their prefered modes of transpoirt by raising the costs, how about we follow this trail of thought a little further. We should start reducing the number of schools or at least charging for them, so this will discourage people from having children.
Ok, a step too far perhaps, but surely this logic holds. "Sorry, no more hospital beds available, because we want to discourage people being sick!" (and before the flames start, yes I know people dont have a choice... but who knows, the vegetiblairians might want to give it s shot!)
Ok, a step too far perhaps, but surely this logic holds. "Sorry, no more hospital beds available, because we want to discourage people being sick!" (and before the flames start, yes I know people dont have a choice... but who knows, the vegetiblairians might want to give it s shot!)
What pisses me off about this is that he's effectively going into battle against the tree huggers over this and is prepared to use all the arguments about good for the economy etc..
Heathrow will probably end up with another terminal and another runway, putting further pressure on property prices in the area and affecting the quality of life in the surrounding 30-50 mile radius. Also, as JohnL pointed out, there's potential to draw even more international traffic from the UKs smaller airports.
So why the hell does he not take this expansionist position in defiance of the greens and other such groups with respect to our roads? Why do the roads deserve special lefty treatment that the skies do not?
After all, by any measure, emissions from airplanes are staggering when compared to cars in the UK.
Heathrow will probably end up with another terminal and another runway, putting further pressure on property prices in the area and affecting the quality of life in the surrounding 30-50 mile radius. Also, as JohnL pointed out, there's potential to draw even more international traffic from the UKs smaller airports.
So why the hell does he not take this expansionist position in defiance of the greens and other such groups with respect to our roads? Why do the roads deserve special lefty treatment that the skies do not?
After all, by any measure, emissions from airplanes are staggering when compared to cars in the UK.
What's with the talk of putting an airport out on the Thames Estuary? Who will use it? Surely if they need to expand anywhere they need a new airport in South Oxfordshire/North Berkshire (where I think the demand could be). Plenty of old airfields to use out there - the locals don't like track days, well sit on this 
More regional airports/bigger regional airports is what we need, not more traffic into LHR or Gatwick. Look at the LA/SFO areas for a good example of this.
T/.
More regional airports/bigger regional airports is what we need, not more traffic into LHR or Gatwick. Look at the LA/SFO areas for a good example of this.
T/.
quote:
people don't have much of a choice about driving either, given the lack of decent options.
John, I quite agree, especially given the woeful public transport around my neck of the woods. But people always try and tell me that a 2 mile walk, a short train ride, and a walk through a p**s stinking shopping centre cum bus station would be a wonderful alternative to a 10 minute drive. (Yes, I can and do cycle it on occasion, but I am not expecting my suit to be worth wearing by the time I get to the other end!)
C
quote:
quote:
After all, by any measure, emissions from airplanes are staggering when compared to cars in the UK.
Got any info on this?
eg, one aeroplane vs one car (blindingly obvious), or per passenger mile, or total air miles vs. total car miles, or what?
was told by the pilot of a 747 on its way to malaysia that, To take every one onboard from amsterdam to KL by moped would take about 4 months and use the same ammount of fuel as the 747 does in 12 hours. He then added that some of the locals would not like the noise of all those mopeds.........
quote:
quote:
After all, by any measure, emissions from airplanes are staggering when compared to cars in the UK.
Got any info on this?
eg, one aeroplane vs one car (blindingly obvious), or per passenger mile, or total air miles vs. total car miles, or what?
I was going to faff about doing the maths on this one but, fortunately, it has already been done here:
www.howstuffworks.com/question192.htm
Well I actually live just outside Cliffe where they are talking about building the Thames Estuary airport. Do I care ? No not really, if it happens it will be in about 20 years, The marshes are the most desolate barron place you can imagine (haven't changed since Dickins wrote about them) the fact is it would be a massive boost to the local economy after years of knocks (closure of Chatham Dockyard loss of most local industry etc) and in 20 years time it wil be just about right for me to sell up retire and piss off somewhere nice As for the "locals" well you can shove your "Residents Campaign" up your arse all the old biddys that have knocked on my door will be dead anyway by the time it's built.
I'm all right Jack pull the ladder up
As for the "locals" well you can shove your "Residents Campaign" up your arse all the old biddys that have knocked on my door will be dead anyway by the time it's built. I'm all right Jack pull the ladder up
Mel,
My thoughts exactly - just been watching the local news on TV and it is just ridiculous. What a bunch of NIMBYs we are as a nation (Not In My Back Yard in case anyone was wondering). Same for me - I live 30 minutes from Stanstead airport. Should they expand it? Damn right they should. Stonking fine airport if you ask me. In and out without a problem. None of this arsing around you get at Heathrow. One more runway - no stuff it make it three.
Oh, but the locals dont want any more traffic - stuff you dont care. You want piece and quiet - move. Ruin the residual value on the housing - rubbish. See Heathrow. Noise polution - have you heard the M11 with the concrete surface?
Next up on the local moron TV show was the plan to change ex-RAF bases into airports. Oh, cant do that say the locals. FFS - they used to fly considerably louder planes there a few years ago so stuff you. But it wont benefit us - whats that? wont benefit you? What about jobs, what about employment and stable local economy? What about attracting new people to the area and boosting the local economy? Take a look at the villages around Stanstead. It certainly boosted the local economy there....
NIMBYs the lot of them. Cant stand change. Tarmac the whole stuffing place and turn it into one giant airport / carpark / motorway, oh and throw in a few train tracks too (for the times that I am too pissed to drive). Make travel, commerce and people more mobile - not stuck in chocolate box villages that us mere mortals could never afford to live in anyway....
Stuff 'em.
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. I live near Lakenheath and Mildenhall. Do I complain about the air freight going in and out? No, couldnt careless. Its not noisy and in fact my 15 month old son loves them "ook, aine" he keeps saying. Rather cute really.
My thoughts exactly - just been watching the local news on TV and it is just ridiculous. What a bunch of NIMBYs we are as a nation (Not In My Back Yard in case anyone was wondering). Same for me - I live 30 minutes from Stanstead airport. Should they expand it? Damn right they should. Stonking fine airport if you ask me. In and out without a problem. None of this arsing around you get at Heathrow. One more runway - no stuff it make it three.
Oh, but the locals dont want any more traffic - stuff you dont care. You want piece and quiet - move. Ruin the residual value on the housing - rubbish. See Heathrow. Noise polution - have you heard the M11 with the concrete surface?
Next up on the local moron TV show was the plan to change ex-RAF bases into airports. Oh, cant do that say the locals. FFS - they used to fly considerably louder planes there a few years ago so stuff you. But it wont benefit us - whats that? wont benefit you? What about jobs, what about employment and stable local economy? What about attracting new people to the area and boosting the local economy? Take a look at the villages around Stanstead. It certainly boosted the local economy there....
NIMBYs the lot of them. Cant stand change. Tarmac the whole stuffing place and turn it into one giant airport / carpark / motorway, oh and throw in a few train tracks too (for the times that I am too pissed to drive). Make travel, commerce and people more mobile - not stuck in chocolate box villages that us mere mortals could never afford to live in anyway....
Stuff 'em.
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. I live near Lakenheath and Mildenhall. Do I complain about the air freight going in and out? No, couldnt careless. Its not noisy and in fact my 15 month old son loves them "ook, aine" he keeps saying. Rather cute really.
I also live about 30 minutes from Stansted and my only moan is that I can hardly ever get a flight from the airport. It is one of the cleanest, uncongested, easily accessed airports I have ever used. Car parking is so straight forward. The only question I would have is the road links eg M11 & A120 which can easily get buggered very quickly if there is an accident. There are improvements being carried out currently but these will not be enough if the expansion is to go ahead. And it would be nice if we could have the road links put in first rather than the normal expand the airport and then sort the roads out.
quote:
And it would be nice if we could have the road links put in first rather than the normal expand the airport and then sort the roads out.
What, plan for it? You must be kidding - we dont plan anything in this country. Are you British or from a more civilised culture?
Cheers,
Paul
quote:
Given the method of discouraging drivers and flyers from using their prefered modes of transpoirt by raising the costs, how about we follow this trail of thought a little further. We should start reducing the number of schools or at least charging for them, so this will discourage people from having children.
Ok, a step too far perhaps, but surely this logic holds. "Sorry, no more hospital beds available, because we want to discourage people being sick!" (and before the flames start, yes I know people dont have a choice... but who knows, the vegetiblairians might want to give it s shot!)
The best solution is REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POLITICIANS then we all will have one headache less.. 7.62 soft nose anyone?????
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