HEATHROW

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "The point about demolition of houses is actually an interesting one; the previously agreed/now not agreed 3rd runway at Sipson would result in the demolition of around 700 properties, including one grade 1 listed church. The Policy Exchange proposal (referred to in the Economist) would result in around 710 properties demolished, none grade 1 listed.

Seems much more logical to go for an extra runway if it is basically the same amount of destruction, and more importantly no new people affected by an additional approach path from the runway 3 at Sipson?"

The Policy exchange proposal involves diverting/tunnelising the M25 and the demolition and resiting of a reservoir. That makes it an expensive long term project. trouble is, we don't have the luxury of time.

So we may need the third rwy scheme as well, as a stopgap, unless we keep the existing LHR rwys and have 2 more parallel rwys crossing the M25. That means not touching the reservoir, and forgetting about ALL four rwys being west of the M25.

Apart from that, the principle (keeping LHR as a 4-rwy airport and using land west of the M25 to expand it) is sound.

Quote: "It also shows that 'half of West London' might be something of an exaggeration"

No change there: never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Fear is always a good motivator.


Quote: "Having been involved in various road etc projects over time, as soon as it gets into the programme (long before work starts) the roads budget/local authority start buying up the properties affected as they come on to the market in the normal course of events. They can then be rented back out in the interim. By the time you come to start the project the vast majority are typically in your ownership, and compulsion cases end up being very few.

Has Heathrow not beeen buying up the Sipson houses in this manner over the years ?"

Indeed it has, for a long time. The village community was ripped out of Sipson many years ago as many the long-standing residents moved out, expecting their houses would soon be be demolished for the rwy. Most of its current residents are transient as a result of being on 6-month leases, consequently the whole area is blighted.