| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:I'm all for Heathrow expansion (not) | |
| Posted by: | David Fox | |
| Date/Time: | 27/11/07 19:03:00 |
| Gary wrte: >there is a much greater lack of foresight by people, who having moved into an area, under a flightpath and then whinging about it constantly.< Part of the problem is exactly that people didn't buy a home under any flightpath - they are objecting to new flightpaths. Also, there is nothing hypocritical about objecting to expansion of the airport while using it. Few are arguing that it should be closed down, just that a second new airport shouldn't be built nearby. Not expanding won't change the existing west London economy. Although it might help the UK economy (if fewer residents fly abroad the huge tourism deficit that we currently run might be limited a little....). A huge part of the drive for expansion is to cater for transit passengers, who bring little to the UK economy, but might make BAA/BA shareholders a little richer (or in the case of BAA's Spanish owners, less in debt). The expansion is being driven through purely at the behest of BAA and BA (whose lobbying skills are legendary - they even have BA's former boss in place as the chief adviser to the minister responsible). Even when there was a supposed choice being discussed, it was only as to which BAA airport would be expanded (Stanstead, Gatwick or Heathrow). Luton, which is owned by the local council, has never been mentioned. Perhaps BAA/BA even have agents provocateur on this website - we should be told :^) |