Forum Topic

Will there be 3?

Fascinated how languid the Forum is in view of forecast to build 3rd runway at Heathrow. Is this because nobody thinks it will happen? Or because we have all lost our zip?

Alexander MacLeod ● 104d13 Comments

Yes Justine Greening, very helpful. Always replied.

Barbara Stevens ● 103d

On the few times I wrote to Ms Greening I always got a prompt reply.No excuses about being a Minister from what I recall.

Ed Robinson ● 103d

I think rivers also have to be diverted.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 103d

Justine was very good. I got to know her a bit because of her campaign against Heathrow expansion and that goes back to her selection as prospective parliamentary candidate in 2004. And she wasn't afraid to stand up for what she believed, even if it meant Johnson withdrawing the whip from her, though I guess by then she'd had enough.Given the impact that a 56% increase in flights at LHR will have on Putney, a statement from Ms Anderson would be welcome.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 103d

Elizabeth, they're not going to move the M25, as I understand it the plan, if this foolish idea is ever realised, is to dig a road tunnel for it under the runway. Heaven knows how long this would take or how much it would cost.

Richard Carter ● 104d

I've written to Ms Anderson asking if Ms Reeves will quantify the impact on London's economy of having to move the M25......No reply as yet.I am surprised you have not received a reply.When I once asked her a question she was prompt with her response.Justine Greening was also very prompt in this respect but I suspect MPs today receive so much electronic communication from a far more vocal electorate on so many national and international political issues that it is hard for them to keep up with the replies.Like drinking from a hose pipe !

John Hawkes ● 104d

Andy, I agree, it was an extremely cheeky suggestion.However, I am against the expansion of Heathrow airport.  London has many airports, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stanstead and am sure I am missing a few.Heathrow is not the centre of the world, or the UK for this matter.  If an airport expansion is needed, do so in an area that is not built up.  In today's case, houses are there before the airport expansion.I cannot believe that salmon from Scotland is driven down to Heathrow airport for export.  Are there no international airports between Scotland (or in Scotland for that matter) and Heathrow?  Absolute nonsense!The expansion of Heathrow airport is an excuse to help justify the government's terrible policies purportedly enacted to enable growth.... Or, should I say, the belated idea of growth of the economy.

Ivonne Holliday ● 104d

Totally agree, Elizabeth.

Ivonne Holliday ● 104d

Johnson won't get involved. Even when he was a local MP he ran away on a day trip to Afghanistan when May drove it through the Commons on a 3 line whip. He didn't have the courage to be there and speak up for his constituents.Johnson will only get incolved when there's something in it for him.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 104d

Alexander, I don't think it's been particularly languid on the 3rd runway, there's a lively thread below  ("Chancellor swerves question over 'catastrophic' Heathrow runway expansion plans") that has reached 33 replies already, but the more the merrier. I'm especially interested in how Fleur Anderson will react when Reeves makes it official in her endlessly-trailed speech on Wednesday.

Richard Carter ● 104d

Why would Boris get involved? At the time he said that he was the local MP standing up ( or lying down) for his constituents.Seems to me he has no skin in the game now.The first split in the support for Putneys local MP

Andy Pike ● 104d

I've written to Ms Anderson asking if Ms Reeves will quantify the impact on London's economy of having to move the M25. (No idea where it will be moved to, but never mind.) I'm not an experienced economist like Ms Reeves but I'd have thought this would be quite a dampener on growth.No reply as yet, nor have I received a response to my concerns that non-for-profit organisations like medical charities, hospices, small company care homes will be hammered by the NI changes though several firms have made it clear the effect will  be higher prices and less hiring.Given that the Budget is likely to dampen growth I imagine Ms Reeves is scrabbling down the back of the sofa for anything she thinks might sound like growth.Already more people are affected by aircraft noise from Heathrow than much of European airports put together. A 56% increase in aircraft movements at LHR will deprive those under the flight path of the half day respite we currently have. It would be nice if Reeves, Rayner, Milliband et al would speak up about this.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 104d

I do not think anyone has lost their zip.  But, at the moment, they are plans being talked about.  The moment to "fight" will be when a firm decision is to be made.  Will Boris Johnson be true to his word when he said “lie down in front of those bulldozers and stop the building, stop the construction of that third runway”?  We must bear in mind that the government has said it will disregard all previous objection comments and will reject any form of nimbyism.  Very much in the fashion of Angela Rayner destroying all planning regulations to allow homes to be built on the green belt and green land.  Despotic or what?

Ivonne Holliday ● 104d