Essex business chiefs join councils in rejecting bid for huge terminal

6:00am Thursday 12th January 2012 in News By Jacqueline McMillan

OPPOSITION is mounting against £50billion plans to build a huge international airport in the Thames Estuary.

Essex Federation of Small Businesses is the latest to reject proposals for the proposed airport, which would cater for about 150 million passengers a year.

The move comes after Canvey Town Council announced plans to join forces with parish councils in Kent to oppose the scheme.

Two proposals have been submitted for the estuary – London mayor Boris Johnson’s original idea for a floating base near the Isle of Sheppey and architect Lord Norman Foster’s recent proposal for a four-runway airport off the Isle of Grain, in Kent. Lord Foster’s proposal would dominate the view from Southend’s seafront and pier and dwarf nearby Canvey.

Iain Wicks, chairman of the Essex Federation of Small Businesses, said: “We accept there will be an increase in the number of people flying from airports in the South East.

“But rather than create an airport in the estuary, with all the problems that would bring, we would like better use made of available capacity at existing airports, including Southend, Stansted and Manston, in Kent.

“We also believe that if a hub airport is needed, consideration should be given to London Gatwick being developed to fulfil that role.’’ Mr Wicks added: “This policy decision will form the basis of our response to the Mayor of London and will also be sent to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership transport working group for inclusion in their consideration of the mayor’s proposal.”

The national federation is the largest single organisation representing business interests in the UK, with more than 200,000 members.

Comments (13)

6:59am Thu 12 Jan 12

Brunning999 says...

' Did you know that if we ever breed pigs with wings then the price of bacon will go up'
' Did you know that if we ever breed pigs with wings then the price of bacon will go up' Brunning999

7:06am Thu 12 Jan 12

Thames Gateway says...

There are a lot of heavyweights behind the Island Airport idea.... Boris.....Nebs.....J
ayman...... er.. that's it for now.
There are a lot of heavyweights behind the Island Airport idea.... Boris.....Nebs.....J ayman...... er.. that's it for now. Thames Gateway

8:18am Thu 12 Jan 12

Nebs says...

Anyone go to the airport exhibition last night? Was it worth a visit, as I was thinking of popping along this evening.
Anyone go to the airport exhibition last night? Was it worth a visit, as I was thinking of popping along this evening. Nebs

10:04am Thu 12 Jan 12

jayman says...

its just a load of nimby's in kent moaning about private job creation and progress.

reality check.. the government do not have the money to fund a new Thames barrier

the existing barrier will not be able to hold back future spring tides combined with heavy rainfall.

without a new barrier London will flood. all statistical data highlights this.

Southend council and the environment agency are currently conducting a sea defence consultation (see council website) projecting sea level rise trends well into the future.

is it economically viable to continue to punt our airport while trashing the massive benefits of the estuary/grain proposals given the added risk to our economy if London's commercial district and millions of homes where left to periodical flooding.

the gas terminal was built in the wrong location to begin with and the SS Montgomery is stable, as the heavy munitions she carried where not fused. the only reason why she was left was the cost of removal and the previous lack of cost effective marine technology to allow the ships removal from the shallows..
its just a load of nimby's in kent moaning about private job creation and progress. reality check.. the government do not have the money to fund a new Thames barrier the existing barrier will not be able to hold back future spring tides combined with heavy rainfall. without a new barrier London will flood. all statistical data highlights this. Southend council and the environment agency are currently conducting a sea defence consultation (see council website) projecting sea level rise trends well into the future. is it economically viable to continue to punt our airport while trashing the massive benefits of the estuary/grain proposals given the added risk to our economy if London's commercial district and millions of homes where left to periodical flooding. the gas terminal was built in the wrong location to begin with and the SS Montgomery is stable, as the heavy munitions she carried where not fused. the only reason why she was left was the cost of removal and the previous lack of cost effective marine technology to allow the ships removal from the shallows.. jayman

12:04pm Thu 12 Jan 12

DannyK86 says...

A far mroe realistic idea is to build the proposed HS2 rail link to Birmingham, meaning Birmingham Airport will be 40mins away and further expansion can occur there, meaning less of a need to build a new hub in the South East.
A far mroe realistic idea is to build the proposed HS2 rail link to Birmingham, meaning Birmingham Airport will be 40mins away and further expansion can occur there, meaning less of a need to build a new hub in the South East. DannyK86

12:23pm Thu 12 Jan 12

BASILBRUSH says...

Nebs, I went to the exhibition last night. It's small, but it was clear and plenty of the right people to ask questions.
Worth a look.
Nebs, I went to the exhibition last night. It's small, but it was clear and plenty of the right people to ask questions. Worth a look. BASILBRUSH

2:51pm Thu 12 Jan 12

APR says...

150 million passengers ?

Where will they all be going ?
150 million passengers ? Where will they all be going ? APR

3:42pm Thu 12 Jan 12

Nebs says...

APR wrote:
150 million passengers ?

Where will they all be going ?
Hopefully over half of them will be coming here to spend their hard earned.
[quote][p][bold]APR[/bold] wrote: 150 million passengers ? Where will they all be going ?[/p][/quote]Hopefully over half of them will be coming here to spend their hard earned. Nebs

3:54pm Thu 12 Jan 12

John T Pharro says...

jayman wrote:
its just a load of nimby's in kent moaning about private job creation and progress.

reality check.. the government do not have the money to fund a new Thames barrier

the existing barrier will not be able to hold back future spring tides combined with heavy rainfall.

without a new barrier London will flood. all statistical data highlights this.

Southend council and the environment agency are currently conducting a sea defence consultation (see council website) projecting sea level rise trends well into the future.

is it economically viable to continue to punt our airport while trashing the massive benefits of the estuary/grain proposals given the added risk to our economy if London's commercial district and millions of homes where left to periodical flooding.

the gas terminal was built in the wrong location to begin with and the SS Montgomery is stable, as the heavy munitions she carried where not fused. the only reason why she was left was the cost of removal and the previous lack of cost effective marine technology to allow the ships removal from the shallows..
Every one is entitled to their own opinions, but don't just think it is just a load of "nimby's in Kent moaning about job creation and progress".
Reality check Councils in Essex and Kent don't either. Neither do an awful lot, probably the majority of residents, both in Kent and Essex. Neither do the RSPB because not just of the damage done to the bird's habitat (that would be enough anyway) but the danger of bird strike to aircraft.
Economicaly it would be little or no benefit to Essex because both airports proposals link to Kent.
If you look at the proposal you would be staring all along the Essex side at an airport. Just look how close the power station looks in the mouth of the Medway and then stick the airport in front. Never mind the noise of landing and take off the noise just taxing to the terminals will carry for miles as sound travels louder over water.
Barmy Boris is Mayor of London so to him Bog off and if you want a London Airport build it where you are Mayor of.
Jayman if you are so sure you want an airport in the Thames form your own pro supporters club. I gurantee those opposed will out number your lot.
[quote][p][bold]jayman[/bold] wrote: its just a load of nimby's in kent moaning about private job creation and progress. reality check.. the government do not have the money to fund a new Thames barrier the existing barrier will not be able to hold back future spring tides combined with heavy rainfall. without a new barrier London will flood. all statistical data highlights this. Southend council and the environment agency are currently conducting a sea defence consultation (see council website) projecting sea level rise trends well into the future. is it economically viable to continue to punt our airport while trashing the massive benefits of the estuary/grain proposals given the added risk to our economy if London's commercial district and millions of homes where left to periodical flooding. the gas terminal was built in the wrong location to begin with and the SS Montgomery is stable, as the heavy munitions she carried where not fused. the only reason why she was left was the cost of removal and the previous lack of cost effective marine technology to allow the ships removal from the shallows..[/p][/quote]Every one is entitled to their own opinions, but don't just think it is just a load of "nimby's in Kent moaning about job creation and progress". Reality check Councils in Essex and Kent don't either. Neither do an awful lot, probably the majority of residents, both in Kent and Essex. Neither do the RSPB because not just of the damage done to the bird's habitat (that would be enough anyway) but the danger of bird strike to aircraft. Economicaly it would be little or no benefit to Essex because both airports proposals link to Kent. If you look at the proposal you would be staring all along the Essex side at an airport. Just look how close the power station looks in the mouth of the Medway and then stick the airport in front. Never mind the noise of landing and take off the noise just taxing to the terminals will carry for miles as sound travels louder over water. Barmy Boris is Mayor of London so to him Bog off and if you want a London Airport build it where you are Mayor of. Jayman if you are so sure you want an airport in the Thames form your own pro supporters club. I gurantee those opposed will out number your lot. John T Pharro

6:51pm Thu 12 Jan 12

Excitation says...

Hands off our beautiful estuary Boris. And Jayman, we should have listened to the Dutch consultants for the barrier project. They said we should have built a weir across the Thames from Canvey to Kent with a hydroelectric plant and a river crossing.
Hands off our beautiful estuary Boris. And Jayman, we should have listened to the Dutch consultants for the barrier project. They said we should have built a weir across the Thames from Canvey to Kent with a hydroelectric plant and a river crossing. Excitation

9:09am Fri 13 Jan 12

Nebs says...

BASILBRUSH wrote:
Nebs, I went to the exhibition last night. It's small, but it was clear and plenty of the right people to ask questions.
Worth a look.
I went yesterday. Interesting, especially future plans and future airlines.
They seemed 100% certain that an airport in the estuary could not possibly happen.
[quote][p][bold]BASILBRUSH[/bold] wrote: Nebs, I went to the exhibition last night. It's small, but it was clear and plenty of the right people to ask questions. Worth a look.[/p][/quote]I went yesterday. Interesting, especially future plans and future airlines. They seemed 100% certain that an airport in the estuary could not possibly happen. Nebs

4:40pm Fri 13 Jan 12

John T Pharro says...

Nebs wrote:
BASILBRUSH wrote:
Nebs, I went to the exhibition last night. It's small, but it was clear and plenty of the right people to ask questions.
Worth a look.
I went yesterday. Interesting, especially future plans and future airlines.
They seemed 100% certain that an airport in the estuary could not possibly happen.
Nebs, could you explain more as to who exactly the "they" were and why they were "100% certain" it would not be built?
Thank you.
[quote][p][bold]Nebs[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BASILBRUSH[/bold] wrote: Nebs, I went to the exhibition last night. It's small, but it was clear and plenty of the right people to ask questions. Worth a look.[/p][/quote]I went yesterday. Interesting, especially future plans and future airlines. They seemed 100% certain that an airport in the estuary could not possibly happen.[/p][/quote]Nebs, could you explain more as to who exactly the "they" were and why they were "100% certain" it would not be built? Thank you. John T Pharro

10:59am Sun 15 Jan 12

Sign of the times says...

"But rather than create an airport in the estuary, with all the problems that would bring, we would like better use made of available capacity at existing airports, including Southend, Stansted and Manston, in Kent. "

Note the quote.

It's saying 'ok,ok we agree on making Stanstead bigger, just don't build in the Thames'.

Personally, I am a bird lover and I watch all the progs. that tell us how migrating birds use the thames as their own M25 to find their way in. I don't see this project helping them at all and once the damage is done.....

Who says we need another airport going into London? Is nobody understanding how the world is scaling back, recessing?

Somebody tell me who is going to use this airport that cannot use the existing ones? hmm?
"But rather than create an airport in the estuary, with all the problems that would bring, we would like better use made of available capacity at existing airports, including Southend, Stansted and Manston, in Kent. " Note the quote. It's saying 'ok,ok we agree on making Stanstead bigger, just don't build in the Thames'. Personally, I am a bird lover and I watch all the progs. that tell us how migrating birds use the thames as their own M25 to find their way in. I don't see this project helping them at all and once the damage is done..... Who says we need another airport going into London? Is nobody understanding how the world is scaling back, recessing? Somebody tell me who is going to use this airport that cannot use the existing ones? hmm? Sign of the times

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