Quote: "No surprises there, of course, but interestingly it suggests that Heathrow is still considering whether to outline more than one option for the location of R3 in its submission to Davies."
Would expect nothing less!
Quote: "Accordingly, they would need to be very creative to get a third runway in the Sipson area between the M4 and A4. It may be much easier to get something to the southwest of the airport......"
South west of the airport will not be easy, many more houses to be demolished than at Sipson which is already blighted. West of Sipson may be the answer, crossing the M25.
Quote: "Of course, Heathrow could help to improve matters by choosing to ban some or all of cars/diesel cars/ diesel buses/taxis from its premises and ensure workers/passengers rely on clean public transport. It would be interesting to see if this would give sufficient headroom for a third runway at Sipson."
Public transport to/from Heathrow still isn't good enough.
For example, there is no rail access from the west. Which numpty designed airport junction without a chord linking the airport spur to/from the west and who approved this half measure?!
Why is there no rail link between Heathrow-4 and Heathrow-5 so that trains and tubes can call at all three terminal sites in turn?
Why is there no rail link from Heathrow to the southwest mainline at Feltham? (this has been mooted since 1966).
Why are there no direct bus links from Heathrow-5 to the south where many airport workers live?
There is much to be done on the public transport, and it has to be ultra-reliable: people catching flights and going to work must have confidence.
Quote: "I have argued this before re: Heathrow with Lord Adonis, and I've also argued in Jet Blast about the need to encourage more transport that takes the air pollution away all together (walking / cycling) or at least offsets it well out of the city (GW line will be electrified by then / electric buses or buses with flywheels etc."
Interestingly, it is no longer possible to walk/cycle onto the airport. They are banned from the former pedestrian/cyclist tunnels which have been converted for vehicles.
Quote: "The key to this is a good working relationship with TfL. Sadly, through being at the beck and call of Boris Jonhson, they remain wedded to the Fantasy Island project, and have recently sent reps round on an humiliating national tour to see this scheme."
Wouldn't the "planning gain" be between Heathrow and the government as this is infrastructure of national significance? It should be possible to work with all transport providers/operators including TFL. Boris won't be there forever, he apparently has bigger plans.