Skipness One Echo - great posts.
Those supporting LGW on cost grounds are naively gullible. LGW have not costed any surface access improvements. Nada. The rail service is already appalling and the motorway incapable of adequately handling current traffic levels. They'll have to increase capacity of both - so who's going to pay for that? GIP or the taxpayer? At least LHR has included surface access improvements. TfL have added up all their desired improvements for the next 20 years and want LHR to pay - even though most traffic on the M25, M4, Crossrail and tube is NOT airport related!
So if the anti-LHR argument is because of costs, it's not so clear cut.
If the argument is based on benefits then LHR is the clear winner - whatever measure you use (GVA, GDP, jobs, apprenticeships, frequency & spread of long-haul routes).
The Davis Commission did a very admiral job of being the honest broker and took out the parochial noise.
Well, in my opinion.