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Boris Johnson was under pressure today to “come clean” over his plans for a Thames Estuary airport.
The Mayor has been a vocal campaigner for a new island airport to provide “much-needed” flight capacity and boost the capital's economy. In a report commissioned today Mr Johnson claimed he was looking at a “number of sites” across the South-East.
He warned London was in danger or losing jobs to competitors including Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Madrid unless it had a brand new hub airport.
“For London to retain its position as the heartbeat of global business we need aviation links that will allow us to compete with our rivals,” he said.
Today's report exposes a rift with the Government, which has to date ruled out any airport expansion in the South-East. Ministers had privately thrown cold water on the “Boris Island” plans, but City Hall insiders hope the report will influence their aviation strategy.
John Stewart, chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN ClearSkies, said: “The Mayor owes it to the people of London and the South-East to come clean on whether he still supports a Thames Estuary airport wholeheartedly or if this is one of the many options that he's floating.”
The report's focus on alternative sites led to suggestions that Mr Johnson was shying away from his Thames Estuary proposals.
It also raises the prospect of expanding Stansted, Gatwick, City or Luton airports — though he has explicitly ruled out a third runway at Heathrow. Daniel Moylan, the Mayor's aviation adviser, said: “We don't have a favourite option at the moment. Boris's view about the Thames Estuary island airport is that he still thinks it should be looked at very carefully, but if people have better proposals then he's happy to look at them.”
Mr Moylan denied Mr Johnson was now “backing away” from his Thames proposals, which critics claim would be prohibitively expensive — at around £40 billion — as well as damaging to the environment.
Official estimates suggest time savings and other benefits of a new airport could be worth up to £1.1 billion a year to London's economy.
The Government announced in November that it was reviewing its aviation strategy and plans to publish a “scoping document” in March.
Rodney Chambers, leader of Medway Council in Kent, said: “The Mayor needs to make clear where he stands on the Thames Estuary airport. Has he seen sense and abandoned this pie-in-the-sky scheme or is this a plot to push the Government towards what he's been campaigning for?”
Reader views (34)
Environmental vandalism on a grand scale Boris!
Alongside the RSPB and a broad coalition of millions, we are wholly opposed to the construction of an airport anywhere in the Thames Estuary because of the immense damage it would cause to the area’s internationally important wildlife and the wider environment. The whole issue was exhaustively investigated between 2002 and 2005 in the Government’s Aviation White Paper. ALL the key players, including the aviation industry, contributed. The idea of an airport in the Thames Estuary was conclusively ruled out and upheld by the High Court. In addition to the unprecedented environmental damage and the resulting massive legal implications, the investigation found that an estuary airport did not make sense economically, would not meet the requirements of the aviation industry and presented a significantly higher risk of ‘bird strike’ than at any other major airport in the UK. It would potentially be the single biggest piece of environmental vandalism ever perpetrated in the UK.
Friends of the North Kent Marshes
- Friends of the North Kent Marshes, North Kent, 22/01/2011 01:20
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To Leonard Lillywhites, Tottenham..
I've not heard Boris, or any supporter of an estuary airport, ever mention or address the problem of the SS Richard Montgomery.
I say to all those estuary airport supporters, google "SS Richard Montgomery" and then get Very Scared Indeed.
However, to be fair, every government since WW2 has conveniently 'ignored' this little problem.
- Weybridge Resident, Weybridge, Surrey, 19/01/2011 13:12
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bleedinobvious, Eltham.
You are indeed quite correct with your distances from London, the M2 and Ashford. However a lot of people live in Kent which is not yet served by a major airport.
I used to live in rural Kent and getting to and from LGW, STN or LHR was an absolute pig at any time of the day or night.
The worst occurence being landing at Heathrow just before rush hour on a long haul flight on a Friday afternoon and then sitting in stop start traffic for close to 100 miles with jet lag. finally arriving home 5 hours later.
The journey from Manston would have taken 1 hour max and would have kept me away from the M25. Oh, how I would have welcomed that.
- Daddy, Kensington, 19/01/2011 08:33
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Boris did nothing to stop expansion at London City Airport. He said it was good for business. So how did the new routes to Majorca and Ibiza help the British economy?. The average person, will go and blow £500 to a £1500 on an overseas holiday. We are taking money out of the country and only helping foreign economies.
Saying that Heathrow has only 2 runways and Paris has 4 is a big con. London has far more airports, so if you add the runways at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, London City, Luton, Biggin Hill and Northholt. How many more runways do we need?.
Secondly, places like Schipol which have more runways simply that they rotate which runways they use, to give respite to local residents from noise.
- W.L., London, 19/01/2011 01:55
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we ignore the scientists at our peril i dont want anymore airport expansion. amazing that most who support a new airport dont live near it. .
- c may, tatsfield, 18/01/2011 23:04
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An airport over water solves the problem of noise disturbance of houses in the flight path (there won't be any) The planes will also arrive and depart over the north sea.Any land crossing would be at a great height before the plane descends down over water.Also they could have 24 hours service due to reduced noise.It's a great idea
- David, london, 18/01/2011 22:08
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What about North Repps International Airport (well, that's what the locals call it). Ripe for development I say!!
- John Evans, Alton Hampshire, 18/01/2011 20:56
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Weybridge resident..
Think your post has gone over many peoples heads,has Boris mentioned anything about the thousands of tons of explosives on board and how he intends to deal with it ,without blowing up a good part of the garden of England and surrounding environs.
- Leonard Lillywhites, Tottenham, 18/01/2011 20:09
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The Mayor of London is the best ever,leave him get on with fixing London.
- KC, KYRENIA CYPRUS, 18/01/2011 19:48
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Living very close to London City Airport, I asked Boris during the Mayoral election campaign what his stance was regarding the proposed massive increase to flight movements at LCA, and he stated it was not part of the London Mayor's remit. However, he then wasted no time in supporting the application for increased flights, which is at odds to his opposition of a third runway at Heathrow. His contempt for the East End has since been further highlighted by the Olympics Marathon route issue. I'm worried
- Gloria, London, 18/01/2011 17:44
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Whats wrong with Manston?
well its 75 miles from London and M2 is only two lanes for much of it. A rail link to Ashford and HS1 would need 35 miles of new track and a new station and Manston has only one runway - so couldnt cope as a hub airport
- bleedinobvious, Eltham, 18/01/2011 15:41
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Boris Johnson should be doing the job he was elected to do but prefers writing newspaper columns, giving speeches and pushing the fantasy business ideas of his rich Tory mates.
- Helen, West London, 18/01/2011 12:36
He *IS* doing what he was elected to do. that may not coincide with your interests as much as Ken did.
- Scotty, London, 18/01/2011 14:57
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Peter Hooper, Windsor. UK, actually technically Heathrow and London City are the only airports in London. The others are outside London. That's just me being pedantic though (as the others clearly serve the London area mainly too).
- Test Man, London, England, 18/01/2011 14:10
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"Charles de Gaulle in Paris has 5 Runways while Heathrow only has 2"
France is over twice the area of the UK and it has less than half of the population density of the UK, so I'm not at all surprised they have far more space to build runways away from residential areas.
Why we obliged to copy what everyone else does?
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 18/01/2011 13:34
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One pound in every four the government spends is borrowed due to previous profligate public overspending and this proportion will have to increase for years to come due to the massive deficit. Where will the money come from to fund a new airport?
- Derek, Bedworth, 18/01/2011 13:29
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"Or should i vote for Boris,he has never raised my taxes once."
- The Pigeons, Muzeltov Hill, 18/01/2011 11:20
Do you take public transport at all? Boris has increased my bus fares by 44% in under 3 years. Travelcards are up across the board. Boris may well have not increased the Council Tax precept, but he sure has increased the amount of money that he extracts from London's residents.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall, 18/01/2011 13:11
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I agree with Daddy of Kensington. Manston is a already a fantastic airport and is used by Flybe on a scheduled service. With a little updating, it could handle greater traffic and is surrounded mainly be sea and very minimal housing. Creating a new airport with the vast carbon footprint associated with the construction makes no sense when so little needs to be done to achieve the same gaol, just a few miles further along the north Kent coast from the Thames Estuary where Boris wants his airport. I love aircraft and would gladly welcome more flying over my head, but reality must be accepted - the mainstream London Airports and surrounding airspace is overstretched, so an out of town airport is the only option. But when will the Government and their planners realise the best financial and logistical answer is Manston?
- Malcolm, London, 18/01/2011 13:01
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A Thames Estuary airport is impossible until you solve the problem of the SS Richard Montgomery first.
- Weybridge Resident, Weybridge, Surrey, 18/01/2011 12:48
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Anyone who has seen the magnificent Hong Kong airport built outside the city on land reclaimed from the sea and linked to the city with high speed trains will appreciate The Mayor's excellent idea of creating a major London airport in the Thames Estuary.
- Dan, London, 18/01/2011 12:48
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Boris Johnson is (supposedly) Mayor of London. He has no remit for airports and the Thames Estuary site he has previously proposed for a new airport is totally beyond his jurisdiction - it is not in London.
Why are people such as TfL board member Daniel Moylan and the Chair of TfL, Boris Johnson, wasting their time and OUR money on this nonsense when the London Underground gets worse every day and bus mileage is being cut?
Boris Johnson should be doing the job he was elected to do but prefers writing newspaper columns, giving speeches and pushing the fantasy business ideas of his rich Tory mates.
- Helen, West London, 18/01/2011 12:36
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Yet more Croynism from the Mayor of NIMBYIA - (Not in my back yard International airport!).
Charles de Gaulle in Paris has 5 Runways while Heathrow only has 2 (I notice this is not mentioned in the report that compares destinations served!).
Fact is we cant continue with Gatwick and Stanstead only having 1 runway its time both these airports got a 2nd runway.
As for estuary airports this idea is is a daft as diverting HS2 via Heathrow the fact is nobody lives at these places and so millions or more likely billions of pounds will need to be spent taking passengers where they dont want to go and both creating far more pollution than extra runways as existing airport would and making journies much longer.
Anyway Boris will be just a bad memoary in a years time and seeing as Dave wont want him back he will have to apply for the roll of Goodbye Mr Chips a role he fits pefectly!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 18/01/2011 12:02
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Well done on this Boris.
Very good thinking.
Of course the eco nutters and the Labour party will hate it as you havent mentioned any new taxes.
Lets make one thing clear.
If you are a working person anywhere on the salary chain ask yourself this .
Should i vote for RED KEN?
HE RAISED TAXES EVERY YEAR SO THAT HE COULD EMPLOY HIS WIFE ON 150K A YEAR AND BECAUSE HE WANTED AN OFFICE IN CARACAS TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HUGO CHAVEZ?
Or should i vote for Boris,he has never raised my taxes once.
RED KEN MEANS HIGHER TAXES.
ANYONE BUT RED KEN!
- The Pigeons, Muzeltov Hill, 18/01/2011 11:20
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It looks like the residents of Barnes & Hammersmith have been pestering old golden boy.
And what about the employment that Heathrow provides..?? Oh yeah, everyone will just have to move to keep their jobs...To where exactly..??
But hey, at least the residents of the afore-mentioned will not have to move from their lovely homes, and they will not be woken up first thing in the morning anymore...So why would they care..??
Yep - I live under the flight path...No - I don't work at Heathrow.
Oh yeah "...another Mr Johnson-commissioned report"...Just how much is that costing us tax payers..??
- Mark H, London England, 18/01/2011 11:16
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PS. Around the 'new LHR housing development' the water reservoirs and gravel pits would make ideal and attractive wildfowl havens rather like the one in SW London at Barnes.
- turner, Beijing, China, 18/01/2011 11:06
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What is wrong with RAF Manston (or Kent international is it is also known).
It has a long and wide runway originally used for military aircraft in distress so perfect for larger passenger jets.
It's right near the coast so a minimum of overflying populated areas.
Just up date the terminals and stick in a high speed rail link to Ashford. Relatively cheap and it will bring much needed employment to the area.
(and you can visit the Spitfire museum on the way through).
- Daddy, Kensington, 18/01/2011 11:00
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Would it be wise to build an airport in the Thames Estuary, when the world is faced with rising sea levels?
- PSmith, London, England, 18/01/2011 10:57
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Close LHR.
Close GTW.
Utilise and make better use/more of Northolt.(By the road & on the tube so has transport links in place)
Extend Stansted by adding a further runway.
Extend the runway and facilties of London City so it can take larger jets.
Sell off LHR/GTW for low cost housing/key workers housing to meet shortage of in London.
Sell the land at all the main London HMP's and relocate to LHR, and develop the sites for luxury housing to contribute to cost of airport extensions.
Conclusion: Cost effective way to extend capcity by property development of much needed low cost housing, minimal enviroment impact damage-compared to building whole new airports on virgin terrority and less aircraft flying over London, and benefit of exsisting transport links that could be upgraded cost effectively.
Simple if you think about it, but rarely people in public office do!!
- turner, Beijing, China, 18/01/2011 10:46
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Second runway at Stansted is a better option.
(and mandate the purchase of snow ploughs)
- chris, london, 18/01/2011 10:07
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Let's put the environment before vested interests. About a third of Heathrow's passengers are "in transit" and do not visit the UK. They only benefit airlines and airport operators who make the money. Amsterdam and Paris have sufficient capacity - let them have the business and let's try and improve our quality of life and not destroy the birdlife in the Estuary.
- Abb, London, 18/01/2011 09:49
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you don't need another airport, in the Thames Estuary, you've got Stansted and Gatwick which can be expanded with another runway. There's also a little airort at Southend.
Johnson has no idea what he's talking about. He's mnot at all green.
- dhan raj, basildon, 18/01/2011 09:30
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Good, sort it out, it's what is needed and the location is perfect.
- ST, London, 18/01/2011 09:16
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If one passenger jet a minute was flown low above the Palace of Westminster instead of South West London there would be droves of MPs supporting Boris's proposal. It was idiotic to locate Heathrow Airport where it is. There is not a single major capital in the world where planes have to cross the city in order to take off and land, deafening residents and dumping huge quantities of pollution. Close Heathrow down and rebuild in the Estuary.
- ALEX, LONDON, 18/01/2011 09:11
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It is wrong to suggest that Heathrow is London's only airport, as in addition it is ringed with Gatwick, Stansted, Luton & London City airports. When you consider it in these terms, London already has 6 runways which serve a multitude of destinations!
Also BAA Heathrow, as a replacement of the abandoned 3rd runway, could consider funding the extension of HS1 "to or near" Heathrow; also looping HS2 via this new station.
- Peter Hooper, Windsor. UK, 18/01/2011 08:59
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This proves global warming is a load of cr-p.So now we know planes to not harm to enviroment,lets see the tax taken away and airfares halved.
- dave, london, 18/01/2011 08:46
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