Alternative Sites
The ideal place to build a new Observation Deck at Heathrow would be on the site of the former Texaco Petrol Station to the south of the 09R threshold. This area has been a blocked off empty piece of land for some years now. We need someone with entrepreneurial desire, loads of money and good negotiating skills to approach the BAA or whoever owns the land. It is sufficiently set back from the perimeter not to be a security risk and I reckon with the number of UK spotters, if it had descent facilities such as a restaurent, toilet and reasonably high observation platform, the owner could make a killing. (Maybe five quid entrance fee for the day).
There are also a number of empty offices overlooking 26 / 08 at Gatwick south side at Lowfield Heath which could also be used for a similar purpose if Planning Permission could be obtained etc.
Anyone like to invest in a couple of new business ventures ?
(Comment from a plane spotter since 1976 now flying as cabin crew for a UK airline out of Gatwick)