"Boris Island" bollocks is pipe dream (well duh!)

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Medway Council: Thames Estuary airport idea 'pipe dream'

Politicians in Medway have condemned plans to examine the idea of building a Thames Estuary airport in a consultation on UK aviation.

They argue the proposed airport hub would be a waste of money and damage the environment off the Hoo peninsula.

Leaders on Medway Council have written to Transport Secretary Justine Greening asking her to attend an urgent meeting so she can hear their objections.

Supporters of the idea say the UK needs more airport capacity.

The airport would be built partly on reclaimed land and could be on either an island or a peninsula.

An open letter from the four group leaders on Medway Council said that 76% of the UK public opposed the proposals, along with many major airline industry leaders.
'Huge affect'

The letter, which describes the proposal as "a pipe dream", has been signed by Medway Council's Conservative leader Rodney Chambers, Labour's Paul Godwin, Liberal Democrat Sheila Kearney and leader of the independent group Andy Stamp.

It said: "If it were to go ahead, it would have a huge affect on the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents in Medway, as well as across Kent and the wider Thames estuary.

It said the airport "would devastate an area of global environmental significance" and the infrastructure needed would "cut great swathes off the green belt".

Supporters of the scheme, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, say a new hub is needed to meet the demands from airlines and big business for more airport capacity so the UK can compete with European rivals.

They also argue large-scale infrastructure projects are needed to stimulate the UK's struggling economy.

Passenger demand for London's airports is forecast to increase from 140 million to 400 million a year by 2050.

[Clinton Huxley]

I saw one proposal to expand Birmingham airport and define that as a London airport...

[MrJonno]

I propose we stop asking what local people want!, its bloody obvious no one wants an airport/rail line near them and just build them anyway if its for the benefit of the country.
It's their MP job not to stop the building but to ensure his constituents get decent compensation when they are built.

PS I live next to Birmingham airport and the best thing they could do is expand it over where I live (preferably when I'm not actually in the house)

[klr]

Boris' re-election campaign is clicking into high gear. He's not as thick as he looks. Or to be more accurate, his strategists aren't as thick as he looks.

[PsychoSerenity]

I've never understood why we need more airport capacity.

"demands from airlines and big business for more airport capacity so the UK can compete with European rivals"

Compete in what way? In how much time, effort and resources we can waste? What do more airports actually give us?

[Clinton Huxley]

"What do you mean, 'Why are you building a bypass?'. You've got to build bypasses!"

HHGTTG.

[Audley Strange]

I've never understood why we need more airport capacity.

"demands from airlines and big business for more airport capacity so the UK can compete with European rivals"

Compete in what way? In how much time, effort and resources we can waste? What do more airports actually give us?

Well that depends on your outlook really.

Many people might think profit from imports and exports.
Others may think money from tourism
Yet more might think we might scare off some pigeons and squirrels and butterflies
Others might think that it'll bring their house prices down
Others might think its giving terrorists another doorway to blow up people.

I think someone's given Boris some money to "mention" the idea publically (meaning to his masters) and like the graceless buffoon that he is he went off wittering excitedly about the project like a dog that thinks you'll give it a bigger bone if it barks louder.

I mean have any of you ever actually met the fool? He's a stunning example of why people think Marx dialectic view of history is still accurate. The joke of a man is the embodiment of squandered privilege. So like Britain, put the village idiots in charge of the country sure, but remember to burn the fuckers at the solstice!

[Horwood Beer-Master]

I propose we stop asking what local people want!, its bloody obvious no one wants an airport/rail line near them and just build them anyway if its for the benefit of the country...

London is not "the country" and needs to stop fucking well thinking it is.


Llyn Celyn reservoir was supposedly built for the greater good, but it's construction swelled the ranks of Plaid Cymru. I'm not suggesting there's going to be a Kent Nationalist Party anytime soon, but Londoners need to stop seeing their wretched city as the be-all and end-all of the entire fucking universe, or else there will be backlashes.


Personally I side with those Northerners who think the capital should be moved up-north somewhere. I don't honestly give a toss where, just as long as Londinium gets moved down a peg-or-two.

...I live next to Birmingham airport and the best thing they could do is expand it over where I live (preferably when I'm not actually in the house)

Grand idea! Then there's less pressure on the South-East to take all the extra air travel this country (apparently) needs (I stress "apparently").

"What do you mean, 'Why are you building a bypass?'. You've got to build bypasses!"

HHGTTG.

In Yes Minister they called it 'politicians logic'


Something Must be done.

This is "something".

Therefore we must do it.

...Many people might think profit from imports and exports...

That's more an argument for more large container seaports than more airports.

[Audley Strange]

That's more an argument for more large container seaports than more airports.

Well if you find someone who uses that reason for support of the airport you could get into it with them. However I think you'd be hard pushed to find anyone other than Boris.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-17229988

Wildlife haven status for Thames Estuary airport land

Opponents of a new airport in the Thames Estuary have welcomed a government decision to designate the land earmarked for the project as a new wildlife haven.

The Thames Marshes have been included in a list of 12 Nature Improvement Areas and campaigners believe this could scupper the project. <continued>