Originally Posted by
Shed-on-a-Pole
I have no desire to see worthwhile value-for-money projects cancelled in the SE or anywhere else. The problem lies with permitting one specific project at which the cost of provision vastly outweighs the benefits which will ultimately be delivered. And one which misallocates an enormous swathe of public investment resources in the process.
That element of public funding is actually 12 to 18 times the sum which has ever been invested in a single public transport infrastructure project in the UK regions.
My argument is for a solution to the SE runway capacity shortfall which does not jeopardise the finances of UK plc. The hub aspiration only makes sense if the payback exceeds the cost of facilitating it by a worthwhile profit margin. Providing capacity for inherent SE demand-growth for air travel is the key issue here. LGW can deliver that.
In what way does GBP18.5Bn private plus between GBP12-18Bn in public funding for enabling works constitute a realistic amount for expanding LHR capacity by just 50%?
Shed. You argue your case articulately as ever. Sadly you also undermine it by your dogged insistence on utilising figures for the public expenditure to support Heathrow's expansion that have little or no basis in fact. You have on many occasions cited TfL figures to justify the upper range of the cost envelope. These figures include every bit of TfL expenditure that it can possibly pin against Heathrow for 30 years worth of investment. To think that TfL won't be arguing the need for similar sums to support the capital's future transport needs if Heathrow doesn't get the green light is naive, and that's not a word I would associate with you.
You also seem to be focused on the cost of everything and the value of nothing. How much tax (in the form of APD) do Heathrow passengers contribute to the Treasury? How much additional revenue would a 50% increase in traffic generate over 15 or 20 years? How expensive is that public sector investment looking now?
Anyway, until the government of the day grows a paira nd actually makes a decision this debate is rather academic anyway, wouldn't you say?