Boris is now planning a four runway Stansted.
Ho ho ho, finally Boris hoists the white flag over the sinking Silver Island, the plans clearly do not hold water!
Of course Stansted has most of the problems and disadvantages of Silver Island and as mentioned many times before: it does not address the issue of a lack of HUB capacity.
Look closely at the picture of the four-rwy Stansted (above), there's no activity there, nothing landing or taking off at the Essex airport: "the only way is Mirabel".
Quote: "Actually, I think this proposal is a spoiler. In reality, Boris wants to scare the people of Bishops Stortford into campaigning for a Silver-Boris Thames airport. And there is nothing that scares the burghers of Bishops Stortford more than a 4-runway Stansted (check out where that northerly runway ends)."
More likely they'll be scared into campaigning for 2 more rwys at Heathrow, it's affordable, realistic, what the industry wants and DEFINITELY prevents Stansted expansion. If Silver Island were to be as big and successful as the fantasists suggest, it could lead to the closure of Stansted, putting local jobs at risk. Think on!
Quote: "Meanwhile a four runway LHR is now being touted with the clear view that the end game is presentable as saving green fields in Essex and only ONE teeny wee new bit of concrete at LHR. Affordable and politically accetable once you wrap it up like that."
Spot on, Skipness.
Quote: "This is all clearly about votes, lets not kid ourselves. Boris wins votes around Heathrow by opposing expansion, whilst promoting expansion at places he has no jurasdiction over and have no impact on his reelection or otherwise.
Simple politics really, politics that Cameron and co should shrug off and do what their job is i.e. what's best for the country, not what a few people living round Heathrow think"
Indeed it is, but the Commission reports in 2015, Boris's term expires in 2016. Is he going for a third term? Is he going back into Parliament? It's up to Cameron to face down Clegg, but he won't do it, so in coalition politics, the tail wags the dog.