As mentioned in post # 1253:
Silver has never had any answers before, so don't count on it.
See post #1,254 for confirmation.
Despite the commission's idea to keep it on the back-burner, it is obvious that Silver Island won't happen. As for the entire concept of estauary airport plans in general, that particular ship sailed decades ago when (1) there were no ownership issues at airports (they were state-owned) and could be closed and relocated at the government's will; and (2) when the government rejected Foulness/Maplin and opted for Stansted as London's THIRD airport.
Discussion on the beeb (R5) has suggested that the growth in recent years has been attributable to LoCos. Diverting these to Gatwick (and Stansted) - with, perhaps, a further runway for Gatwick, might release sufficient slots from Heathrow to obviate the need for expansion there
No, it's the other way around!
A third/fourth rwy at LHR would release sufficient slots at LGW as it would lose it's "LHR overflow" and "LHR waiting room" functions.
OK, for the last time ...
How do you calculate the cost of court cases / compensation for:
- All the 'blue collar' workers who cannot move their families across the city (and should not be asked to do so. Social cohesion does mean something)
- Quote Wikipedia: "The airport sustains 76,600 jobs directly and around 116,000 indirectly in the immediate area"
- All the companies along the M4 corridor (100+ miles) that have based themselves there BECAUSE of LHR
- All the houses in the North West / West / South West of London and Berkshire (et al) that have suddenly depreciated in value.
- All the residents of those houses who use LHR frequently and would find themselves on the wrong side of London for the airport. But what if their company moved elsewhere (UK/afield)?
- All the other airlines forced to move, would charge and/or sue for every single penny of their relocation costs. Start with BA and then add VS and EVERY other carrier - Wikipedia says "over 90 carriers"
That's before you start to build the island AND move the Gas Storage facility etc.
Oh yes, and how do you prevent the extreme profiteering on property/land in that new area?
The entire concept of the viability of an estuary airport makes the assumption that the owners of LHR Ltd. would agree to close their very profitable airport, and sell the asset for non-airport use.
WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS?
A question never asked to Boris by the media and others, and one even he would find hard to answer.....and yet another occasion where Silver also has no answer.
A return to the real world would be very welcome.