"Blue Sky Thinking" about Heathrow

Post by **clv101** » 26 Jul 2017, 21:45

Pepperman wrote:Don't forget VAT on tickets too. Unfortunately all of those are controlled by international treaty so it'll be very difficult to fix.

What government can do is set air passenger duty at a much higher level such that it raises as much revenue as is currently missed by the VAT and duty dodge on aviation fuel.

Pepperman · Post by **Pepperman** » 27 Jul 2017, 09:28

True.

Post by **adam2** » 05 Jun 2018, 14:13

Extra runway at Heathrow has now been approved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44357580

This is only one of many approvals, and I remain doubtful that it will ever be built. It still needs a parliamentary vote, the outcome of which looks a bit doubtful.
Also still needs planning permission.

Pepperman · Post by **Pepperman** » 06 Jun 2018, 11:29

I'm not sure parliamentary approval looks so doubtful. Tories being whipped and plenty of Labour MPs support.

Post by **clv101** » 06 Jun 2018, 12:24

Parliamentary approval is one thing, it still needs to get through planning and there are strong legal arguments around air and noise pollution. Even if planning is granted, there's then the public protests, this generation's Newbury by-pass? A new climate camp like Kingsnorth? All this against the backdrop of Brexit and economic collapse...

I doubt a plane will ever fly from Heathrow's third runway.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 06 Jun 2018, 20:30

clv101 wrote: I doubt a plane will ever fly from Heathrow's third runway.

I'd give it a 50/50 chance.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 18 Jun 2018, 16:26

I think I still own a square metre of land there. Unless that was Gatwick. Heck, so many protests, so little time...

Post by **adam2** » 27 Feb 2020, 11:12

Those opposed to the expansion of Heathrow on environmental grounds, have won a court battle.
Good news IMO.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51658693

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 27 Feb 2020, 14:42

Great news and it gets Boris off the hook over his "lie down in front of the bulldozers" quote.

Hopefully it will knock a bit of sense into industry over climate change and make them think. The next goal must be the idiot thinking on the sustainability, both economic and environmental, of continuous economic growth!

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 28 Feb 2020, 10:47

kenneal - lagger wrote:Great news and it gets Boris off the hook over his "lie down in front of the bulldozers" quote.

Hopefully it will knock a bit of sense into industry over climate change and make them think. The next goal must be the idiot thinking on the sustainability, both economic and environmental, of continuous economic growth!

Great news indeed.

Boris has said so much, nobody takes his 'gesture politics' seriously.
Think he only said this anyway, because his idea was to build a massive new 'Thames Gateway' airport on the other side of London ?

But HS2 got the go-ahead the week before, so we've still got some way to go regarding the sustainability / economic growth argument....

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 28 Feb 2020, 17:45

If they shifted some of the short haul European traffic onto rail they could free up quite a few slots for long haul from Heathrow. Same with Gatwick but then Heathrow and Gatwick are competitors aren't they and that might require some coordination?

cubes · Post by **cubes** » 28 Feb 2020, 19:53

Close Gatwick, build heathrow 3rd runway. Move Heathrow locals to old gatwick site, problem solved imo.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 28 Feb 2020, 21:11

kenneal - lagger wrote:If they shifted some of the short haul European traffic onto rail they could free up quite a few slots for long haul from Heathrow. Same with Gatwick but then Heathrow and Gatwick are competitors aren't they and that might require some coordination?

They're not really competitors, given that both of them are basically full.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 28 Feb 2020, 23:19

The government's plans for massive road building schemes (Â£27b?)

Are also in doubt because any scheme estimated to cause a net increase in CO2 emissions could be barred under the same law.

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 29 Feb 2020, 01:41

PS_RalphW wrote:The government's plans for massive road building schemes (Â£27b?)

Are also in doubt because any scheme estimated to cause a net increase in CO2 emissions could be barred under the same law.

Will EV autos and trucks not need smooth highways?