Wow, I haven't visited this thread in a while but I see the North West Anti LHR campaign is still going strong.
Trickledown certainly does exist and many regionals will see the benefit from LHR hub expansion.
As for the whole TFL £5-18bn input, most of that will be spent anyway.
As for this comment
The £18 billion is from TFL, and covers surface access schemes likely to be needed to alleviate increased demand to the airport.
If the demand is set to increase that much then it is a no brainer. We need it. The argument seems to be we shouldn't build it, yet there will be so much demand it will require major access works??? Is MAN more important than the needs of all these extra people that will use an expanded Heathrow?
A new national hub airport opening up long haul routes to many regional airports financed by a private company? All we need to do is upgrade the transport infrastructure to allow easier access? Yes please.