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Naim

Proposed Thames Estuary Airport, London

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Idea has been around for a while, but renewed interest now. There's even a website for it.

http://www.thamesestuaryairport.com/

 

On wikipedia to0.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_estuary_airport

 

===

 

Mayor keen on island airport plan

 

By Tim Donovan

BBC London's Politics Editor

 

London's mayor is to press ahead with the next stage of plans for an airport in the Thames estuary.

 

A report by an engineer is understood to have found no major obstacles to constructing the airport several miles off the Essex and Kent coasts.

 

Boris Johnson is expected to announce he is to proceed with more engineering and environmental assessments.

 

It has angered environmentalists and Kent County Council has said it would fight the plans.

 

Boris Johnson has vehemently opposed a third runway at Heathrow.

 

Important site

 

But he believes the demand for international travel is unstoppable and Boris Island airport - as it has become known - is the only viable long-term solution.

 

A feasibility study by former chairman of Crossrail, Doug Oakervee, who helped construct a similar airport in Hong Kong, is favourable to the idea.

 

City Hall officials also believe Mr Oakervee debunks some of the myths about the potential harm to birdlife and the environment.

 

The RSPB's Waterbirds in the UK 2006/2007 report places the estuary in the top five most important sites in the UK for water birds wintering or migrating.

 

“ It would be totally horrendous ”

Kent County Council leader Paul Carter

 

The bird charity said it proved plans for an airport in the estuary were doomed.

 

And Kent County Council leader Paul Carter said his plan was "environmentally and ecologically" a very bad idea and said he would fight any proposals to build an airport off the Kent coast.

 

"Environmentally and ecologically it's a very bad idea to build an airport off one of the most beautiful coastlines in the South East," he added.

 

"To say it will be an eyesore is the understatement of the year. It would be totally horrendous."

 

Some estimate such an airport would cost at least £40bn, but City Hall officials have said previously that it could be built entirely with private funding.

 

Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse said last week that international financiers had shown "considerable interest" in the project.

 

There has also been speculation that Chinese investors and Arab sheiks are waiting in the wings.

 

The most expensive single component of the project would not be the airport complex itself but the construction of a high-speed rail-link connecting it to land and taking passengers through the area known as the Thames Gateway.

 

Conservative MPs in Kent and Kent County Council are among those opposed to the idea.

 

David Cameron and Conservative Transport spokeswoman Theresa Villiers have not backed the plans, but say they have been content for the mayor to conduct a feasibility study.

 

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8311442.stm

 

Published: 2009/10/16 17:38:52 GMT

 

© BBC MMIX

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"Leave it, leave it" would Mrs. Bucket (pronounce Bouquet) say !!! :pardon:

 

Leave the Estuary alone and develop Southend- or Kent Int. Airport (West of Ramsgate) into a big London reliever airport (or any of the many disused ex-USAF WW2 airports, for that matter)...

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London mayor has no control over Kent County Council and planning permission is needed and given by the local council. Even if the local council is favourable of the project; before planning permission is granted, public inquiry will take years if not decade.

 

:drinks:

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I thought Oxford had already been identified as the next 'London' airport ?

 

At the Thames estuary eh ? Might as well integrate the proposed airport project with some flood mitigation measures to prepare London town for when the ice caps melt :) That is if all the public enquiries, referendums and planning permissions can be disposed of before the ice caps melt :D

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in order to get th votes for the next general elections, the conservatives has set up a policy not to develop LHR further with a third runway and sixth terminal, hence BAA has stopped the plan until the next general election and sees what the result will be. if it is labour, then go ahead, but if its conservative, sorry.. it will be another 4 years wait for them.

 

hence boris has come up with this stupid thames estuary idea which is like miles away from central london. as if STN and LTN and LGW are all not far enough n now even london oxford airport.. a new airline from switzerland (i think its call baloo) has already scheduled a once weekly op into oxford for the skiing season.

 

my say is develop LHR if u need it.. but dont cause any other chaos to other residents

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my say is develop LHR if u need it.. but dont cause any other chaos to other residents

 

Talking about causing chaos, LHR's long overdue, but still-nowhere-to-be-seen third runway is already causing chaos to Sipson community, since the expansion plan will practically wipe the whole village out along with some historical buildings. Little wonder why the govt. wouldn't want to mess with LHR expansion plan at this moment.

 

Impact on Hillingdon: The expansion of Heathrow will wipe out the entire village of Sipson (700 homes) and part of Harmondsworth, which will be left surrounded by the airport on three sides.

 

Heathrow Primary School would be demolished.

 

Four grade two listed buildings will be within the area to be demolished. Around 22% of the Harmondsworth Conservation Area will be lost. The expansion area covers one scheduled ancient monument, the 14th century tithe barn in Harmondsworth, and another three are in the wider corridor. The site is also an area of high archaeological activity.

 

http://www.hillingdo...articleid=12957

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the labour gov has already said it that if they win the next general election, LHR will certainly be developed.. and honestly it is unfair to the Sipson community but london need the development.. i am pro-development as long as a proper compensation of removal is given to the Sipson residents..but hey, who is to judge what is fair..

 

anyway, whatever it is, my days in LHR is limited till the end of this month, and i am glad to have seen how t4 has developed into now. good luck to LHR and i will miss living under the flight path of the world's busiest international passenger traffic airport..

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anyway, whatever it is, my days in LHR is limited till the end of this month, and i am glad to have seen how t4 has developed into now. good luck to LHR and i will miss living under the flight path of the world's busiest international passenger traffic airport..

 

:blink: going back to Malaysia, or just leaving KLM/UK ? :huh:

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:blink: going back to Malaysia, or just leaving KLM/UK ? :huh:

 

 

pieter,

 

i m going back to malaysia for good.. i have had enough of life abroad. altogether five years now and i miss my family and friends and not to mention food!! haha..

 

we are no longer KLM GRound services ltd anymore. since apr 2009 we merged with air france services ltd in terminal 2 and became CObalt Ground Solutions ltd. we hv recently lost the contract of handling Sri Lankan Airlines to Alitalia ground as they charge way way way much cheaper to handle a flight compare to us (want to know how much? pm me. it is not convenient to say it out here) but gained Korean Air by the end of Nov

 

the new Cobalt's management is really poor and they are trying to squeeze each and every bits of the employee welfare.. luckily we still have a very strong union to stand by us.. something i will certainly miss in asia.. but i am sure most companies in asia has labour union too just depends how strong they are..

 

i am hoping to join SQ but not in management (eventhough this is what i studied) hehe.. will update u if there are another walk-in interview soon..

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...

i m going back to malaysia for good.. i have had enough of life abroad. altogether five years now and i miss my family and friends and not to mention food!! haha..

...

 

Welcome home, YC, can join the hardcore spotters & diners here. B)

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thank naim,

 

i am not really a spotter and i don't really have a 'weapon' like many of you.. but i really enjoy just by watching planes, collecting models, flying, gaining and sharing aviation info.. basically i am just an amateur aviation enthusiast..

 

but its nice to be back home.. lets see if i can stand the scorching heat to be at the 'ladang' hehe..

 

but makan time, have to wait till i got a job before that.. i am most happy to join u guys to have a chat and laugh and probably round my eyes all over as i won't understand many new terms to me especially photography stuff.. but hey something to learn.. hehe..

 

thanks again naim.. tk care and i must say i did sign in everyday just to read your laos trip report..

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Off-topic now, but...

 

pieter,

i m going back to malaysia for good.. i have had enough of life abroad.

 

No trips to AMS before re-locating ?

Otherwise, hope to see/meet you in June 2010 during MW's 5th Anniversary... :pardon:

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article-2056504-0EA4CCB300000578-702_634x360_popup.jpg

 

 

By LOUISE ECCLES

Last updated at 1:12 AM on 3rd November 2011

 

It would be the biggest airport in the world.

 

Jutting out into the Thames Estuary, it would serve 150million passengers a year – more than twice as many as Heathrow – and operate 24 hours a day.

article-2056504-0EA2159800000578-925_634x365.jpg

 

This is Thames Hub, the astonishing £50billion vision to solve London’s aviation crisis.

 

Yesterday, plans were unveiled for the four-runway airport on a sparse strip of land on the Isle of Grain, in Kent.

 

Designed by architect Lord Norman Foster – who created the new Wembley Stadium – the airport would be a modern-day feat of British engineering built on reclaimed marshland. It would include the UK’s busiest railway station, handling 300,000 passengers a day.

article-2056504-0EA214E200000578-363_634x446.jpg

 

Planes would fly in from the north-east, primarily over water, greatly reducing the number of homes that would be affected by aircraft noise.

 

With the Government having admitted in August that London’s main airports will reach bursting point in 2030 – and a third runway at Heathrow having been ruled out – backers of Thames Hub insist it offers a splendid solution.

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2056504/Lord-Foster-unveils-50bn-plans-Thames-Estuary-airport-handle-150-million-passengers-year.html#ixzz1ccf1mf26

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A group of architects and consultants has revealed a proposal to develop a £20 billion ($32 billion), four-runway airport with twice the capacity of London Heathrow on a piece of land in the Thames estuary, as part of a wider integrated transport solution for the UK that has a total price tag of £50 billion.

 

In addition to the proposed airport, the "Thames Hub" project would include a new flood protection barrier, plus hydroelectric power stations that could harness enough energy to run the airport, and a four-track high-speed rail route that would circle London and link the airport with the rest of the UK.

 

The airport, which could be ready by the middle of the next decade, would be capable of handling 150 million passengers a year, and those behind it believe the project will "enable the UK to retain its global aviation hub status". The project is the brainchild of architects Foster & Partners, infrastructure consultants Halcrow and economists Volterra Partners.

 

Whether the Thames Estuary airport - located on the Isle of Grain, about 36mi (57km) to the east of London - is being proposed as a long-term replacement for London Heathrow remains open for discussion.

 

"Would Heathrow become a twin hub, would it become a specialist airport or would it close? We are leaving this question entirely open," said Huw Thomas, a partner at Foster & Partners.

 

However, he pointed out that twin hubs "historically haven't worked", therefore, "the Thames Hub has to become the predominant airport".

 

With Heathrow almost at full capacity and a new third runway ruled out, Foster & Partners chairman Lord Foster believes the UK "has to look at more strategic alternatives".

 

Although some 50mi away from London Heathrow, the proposed airport would only be about 8mi south of London Southend.

 

Environmental concerns - at both local and national level - have been main drivers behind the refusal of a third runway at Heathrow. However, Thomas believes that by developing an airport "with overwhelming rail connections", overall emissions could be dramatically improved.

 

Earlier this year, London mayor Boris Johnson renewed calls to look into building an airport on an artificial island in the Thames Estuary. The mayor's office could not immediately be reached for comment.

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/new-london-airport-proposed-to-address-heathrow-congestion-woes-364251/

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