There’s been alot of debate over the years about a 3rd Runway at Heathrow, and other means of expanding airport capacity in London. I’ve regularly contributed to the debates with observations I’ve made via Google Earth / Google Maps…. and felt now with a government enquiry on the topic on the cards, thought I’d stick them down on the ConservativeChitChat Blog so there’d be a more permanent place for these observations. It was either here, or the Transport Section on our Messageboard alongside our Real Rail Improvements series.
First off, Heathrow – looking at it via Google Maps, there’s sod all space for expansion without taking out a load of villages and things in the process + the A4.
Stansted [View in Google Maps] – Well it appears to have some room for expansion.
Gatwick [View in Google Maps] – Appears to have a bit of room for expansion, but not much.
Manston (Kent) [View in Google Maps] – One of the most favoured options by opponents to a 3rd Runway at Heathrow, due to it’s proximity with HS1 + there’s an aviation firefighting school based there too.
Boris Island / Foster’s Island (Isle of Grain) – Proposals for building a new Airport in the Thames Estuary around Sheerness + Southend-on-Sea, and my other favourite choice. The only MAIN PROBLEM voiced by critics is the proximity to the wreck of the USS Richard Montgomery with upto 3,000 tons of Explosives still on board, which could cause a large blast if they were set off. Said to be almost as quick to build as a 3rd Runway.
RAF Upper Heyford [View in Google Maps] – A year or so ago I spotted this place via Google Earth / Google Maps, last known to be in use storing surplus cars from Screaming Lord Mandelson’s car scrappage scheme. I believe this would be an ideal location for a new London Airport. It even has a railway line going past it that goes straight into London, as well as being in close proximity to the M40 Motorway. There’s been recent news of a consortium looking to build a similar idea in the same area.
WATCH: George Osborne on need for more airport capacity for the South-East.
This article also available to view HERE at our other blog.