£5 to drive into Heathrow

[Jet II]

Todays Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,172-639738,00.html) is stating that Red Ken wants to charge for driving into LHR.

What effect will this have on the governments decision on airport expansion? - I can't see many people wanting to pay extra just to drop-off someone.

[newswatcher]

BBC report says about 45,000 passengers a day, 39% of the total, travel to Heathrow by private car. What is "Heathrow" in this example? Is it only "inner" Heathrow - T1-3, or does it include T4? What about business parking? Would northern and eastern perimeter car parks be included?

Article talks about charging cameras to be set-up on 7 roads leading into the airport. Not sure which they are, would each direction on the A30 be considered as two of these roads?

I'm put off self-funded parking at Heathrow by the cost. Asked for price for 2 weeks over Easter, and could find little under £100 for advanced booking. I see that has now increased to £147 for Pink Elephant!!!!!

So what did I do? Overnight in Holiday Inn (by JCT4) - £69 for double room, including 15 nights parking. Confused? Sure am!:confused:

[Charlie32]

The CEO at Newcastle intercontinental is rumoured to be installing barriers to prevent Pax being dropped of at the terminal, thereby forcing them to pay to go into the carpark, and allowing him to reduce security in front of the terminal.

At least Red Ken has the excuse of trying to reduce congestion. As there is no congestion at Newcastle Mr parkin's moves can only be described as GREED.

Perhaps that is why a crop of "NO PARKIN" signs have started to appear around the airport.

[newswatcher]

a crop of "NO PARKIN" signs have started to appear

Charlie, isn't that what happens when they run out of cake?:= :=

[MerchantVenturer]

Charlie32,

When John Parkin presided over BRS he introduced some of the most draconian parking measures to be seen at any airport.

His car park fees were 'London prices' (recently reduced a bit because of competition from off-airport sites).

However, his real notoriety came in the form of his clamping vans. Any person who stepped outside of their vehicle at the front of the terminal, sometimes merely to assist their passengers to move luggage from the car boot to a trolley, was fair game for the clampers.

The perverse reason given for this excess of zeal was security. But what is the point of clamping a vehicle that might contain a bomb?

The local press contained horror stories almost daily. The airport's reputation locally suffered because of the parking regime.

It was strange in some ways because John Parkin was a first rate CEO at BRS.

[LTN man]

Barriers are already in operation at the drop off zone in Luton as of Monday
Up to 10 minutes free
10 to 15 minutes £25
15 to 20 minutes £35
over 20 minutes £50

This has more to do with Government requirements about unattended cars than collecting revenue although the short term car park is now seeing a roaring trade.

[MerchantVenturer]

LTNman,

Another strange idea because terrorists aren't going to worry about a £50 charge - they wouldn't pay it anyway because they would be gone on their toes.

[donder10]

Another sure 'fire' measure to decrease a terrorist threat:)

[LTN man]

Quote from a Luton Airport planning brief.

“Set-down is to be subject to control barriers with parking subject to a prescribed time limit, and will assist in responding to DfT security directives relating to unattended vehicles close to the Terminal.”

Unattended vehicles now stand out due to the introduction of the barriers where before the drop off zone was packed out with motorists ignoring the double yellow lines as they waited for passengers for up to an hour or more.

[MerchantVenturer]

LTNman,

Well, as long as they don't do what they were doing at BRS - just clamping vehicles that had overstayed their welcome - this might make things a bit easier, but it still requires attendants to be on the ball to spot the 'suspicious' vehicles.