Welcome back Silver! It's about time, where have you been?!
Quote: "Notice to politicians - This is not a decision that can be kicked into the political long grass forever. At some point London will cease to be an international center of world trade, if we do not have the infrastructure to support it. And when that happens, then the UK becomes the new Albania."
silverstrata, we have found common ground at last!
A very informative article in the London Evening Standard".
Well, well, so over half think the government should review its opposition to a third runway at LHR. Only 27% want to rule it out permanently, and a third of those against say that the government should be "open-minded" about it.
It isn't as surprising as some may think.
The message has got through that it's a third runway or mixed mode and a shorter night curfew.
Without a third rwy, the only way to squeeze (a few) more movements out of the system is for mixed mode, (take offs/landings on both runways simultaneously) even though this will not address the issue of congestion and delays on and above the airport.
Pilot schemes of mixed mode (excuse the pun) have started already and will be ramped up during the Olympics. At present with alternation (one rwy for take offs only the other just for landings, swapped over at 1500) allows a half day of peace everyday for those under the flightpath. Obviously with mixed mode, this is lost. The trials are concentrating minds.
Airport users are increasingly frustrated by the delays on takeoff and landings and by the decreasing number of destinations available from LHR.
The impact on growth generally is a point being made by business and this is becoming apparent with the lack of recovery after the recession (obviously there are many causes for the lack of recovery).
Talk of "Silver Island" reminds people of the prosperity and jobs directly and indirectly generated by the presence of LHR and the impact of its decline or closure.
We're running out of "long grass", it's time now for some political reality: let BAA have their third rwy, and a fourth preferably, do it now.
Last edited by Fairdealfrank; 22nd May 2012 at 23:47.