LHR Runway Lights Question

[Lisa]

Any of you LHR tower ATC chappies (or chappeses) answer a question regarding the approach lights....I regularly drive round the eastern end of LHR on the peri-track on my way to work at about 5.30 am on the way to the central area. As is normal the arriving aircraft are using 27L & R. Why is it then that the approach lights for 09R are also on? Seems a bit odd to have a/c landing one direction and the approach lights on the other way as well? This seems to be quite common at that time of day.....?

[ATCO Two]

Hi Lisa,

The "opposite end" approach lights would be on for inspection by HAL at that time in the morning. Nothing more sinister than that!

[southern duel]

Hi Lisa. .just to confirm the previous by ATCO2 even though the runway nad approach lights are normally checked at night by Operations, because of the runway resurfacing going on at the moment on 27L/09R the runway and approach lights are checked again immediatly prior to the runway being available for ATC to use at 06.00.This is to make sure everything is serviceable after the major work.