A hundred years ago nobody could foresee this situation no more than we can foresee how this will turn out, but just supposing aircraft development ten years from now, just as they are close to making up their minds, enters a revolutionary new large multi purpose vertical takeoff and landing, aircraft, commercially viable, then what? the supporting industries would have to go underground, we can all see how underground links work today, without all the what if's soon there will be no great outdoors if we continue to expand, it needs joined up thinking now, otherwise with England buried under concrete, who would want to come here ? and why ?

_________________
Its not always the biggest and the bestest, its them that make the least mistakes.

BBC are ramping the Third Runway idea again..........

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23337754



When you get the big news organisations ramping things they quickly become a settled idea....

There is still plenty of money to be made while its all still in limbo, the for and against lobbies are only scratching at the surface yet, all those with a vested interest in Heathrow, versus all the likely winners should a new airport be the outcome, has not started yet, don't be fooled into thinking noise, or even overcrowding is the issue here! its big bucks that is the deciding factor, far bigger than our feeble minds can apprehend, we are just fodder to whatever argument prevails in the name of public opinion no matter what the outcome, get ready to be conditioned.

_________________
Its not always the biggest and the bestest, its them that make the least mistakes.

By the time this even starts, if approved, I'll be out in the sticks - retired.

Purely out of respect for Hillingdon residents I voted against it

_________________
Lets be careful out there !

I voted against it too. My husband didn't want to vote so I did it for him

Yea! Two votes against!

How about this for a really good forward thinking idea ?

Lets bulldoze an entire airport that has been in situ for decades, and provides employment for anywhere between 75,00 and 130,000 people, directly and indirectly. Bulldoze the the recently built £5bn pound Terminal 5, and the still under construction £2bn pound Heathrow East Terminal. Lets flatten the lot and hand the reigns over to that muppet Boris.

He apparently wants to turn the worlds busiest International airport into a ' New garden city' occuppied by up to 250,000 people. Just one question here. Where are these extra people meant to work when the airport is gone ?

His plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary quite simply defy belief.

Heathrow has been here for a very long time, and folk have flocked to the area as a result, seeking employment.

I remember before it was there, cabbage fields, a large hole full of water where sand had been excavated, a solitary green house, then came the tents large marquees KLM one of the first, all along the Bath road would often pass on the way to Wraysbury for sharp sand with my dad who had a sand and ballast haulage setup, always thought it was an extension for Heston airport that was still operative, wow how things have changed.

_________________
Its not always the biggest and the bestest, its them that make the least mistakes.

My old Nan was born in and to lived in Heath Row until she was in her 20s. Her family were moved as part of the rushed relocation plan during the war (when the UK Govt cynically used war powers to push the development of the airport through as they knew they had no chance via normal planning systems). She moved to Harmondsworth and saw the airport like an unstoppable cancer wrecking much of the area where she was bought up.

She died many years ago and I wonder what she would think of the latest plans that may involve demolishing Harmondsworth village, including her two former homes, the Church she and her daughters were married, and the graveyard where some of the family are resting (not for long).

During the initial construction of the airport, apparently there was an awful winter. The site was a muddy, boggy mess and construction plant was bogged down and some of it was abandoned. My Grandad and his mates apparently used to sit in the pub they almost owned (Five Bells) and laugh at the mess, commenting that "They will never finish that airport". 60+ years later, and I think they were right!

I simply believe that enough is enough. From the pollution and noise it creates, to the jobs it offers - west London has had it's fill. But it will happen as Heathrow is the cheapest and mots politically acceptable option. Even though I am anti - expansion, I really think Boris is past his sell by date with his Garden City plans. There's more chance of Nelson Mandala becoming a Blue peter presenter than there is Boris Garden City ever becoming reality.

As has been stated many times, the airspace around London is clogged already. That's without looking at the surface 'clog' with traffic.

Both Stansted and Gatwick have stated they have room to expand without evicting and bulldozing.

_________________
Lets be careful out there !

I see your point Moley but what about in 100 years time when they are looking to build runways 11 and 12?

Heathrow has constantly expanded since its opening 60+ years ago.

By that time most of Hounslow to the south and east and Hillingdon to the North will be within the airport confines and even though you live in the north of the borough and have had to put up with aircraft noise for years they are coming for your house next.

Of course you won't be around in 100 years but you can see my point too.

Lets build 50 runways turn the whole of West London into airport and be done with it.

Always be aware this is the interests of big business here wanting to make ever more money. They will make the additional employment claims and to an extent they are true but all of this has to be balanced against the environmental damage it will cause.

Even if there were 50,000 additional jobs where will these people live? what hospitals will they use and other services? What about the additional traffic congestions and overcrowded schools which will result?

Families have lived in Stanwell and other airport villages for generations. Why should they have their homes levelled simply because a Spanish owned firm wants to make ever more money?

What about their rights?

Airports are important of course they are, but they are there to provide us with a service, they are not the be all and end all. We must be very careful we don't end up ruining peoples lives just for the sake of the tail wagging the dog.

BAA want the extra runway as it is the cheapest option with the greatest return for them. They will have done a feasibility study about a relocation to the East but don't want the additional expense that will bring.

In any event it is of little consequence to us. If the third runway idea is turned down (again) and they do eventually decide to build to the East, it will be 50 years before anything occurs of consequence, well past our sell by dates.