Thames Estuary airport plans set to take off

MedwayMandem wrote:

@Wainscott Wonder

Seems like your consent with ruining our beautiful landscape.

We already have 4 airports located in London that are not at capacity?

Why spend more of the taxpayers money on another one?

Building an airport, on top of nuclear bombs, situated near a nuclear power site surely is not the wisest of ideas?

Talk about killing the environment!

Boris build your airport in your back garden you money grabbing c***

24 Jan 2012 10:55 AM

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4johns wrote:

At last it is good to see that not everybody is against the airport. Bring it on - jobs for the area is what we need! House prices around Heathrow and Gatwick are higher than Medway anyway.

20 Jan 2012 8:21 PM

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Wainscott Wonder wrote:

@MedwayMandem

God forbid anyone born outside of the sound of St James' bells should be allowed to work at the airport, eh!?

Give me strength (and an airport).

19 Jan 2012 9:44 PM

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MedwayMandem wrote:

Wouldn't create any jobs for the people of Medway any way, all our Eastern European friends would nab them first!

Would a airport on the peninsula also create terrorist scares for the area?

Not a fan of letting Bin Ladens pals attempting to blow my area up thanks...

19 Jan 2012 11:30 AM

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Cobweb wrote:

I will say right now as the former Chairman of a Conservative club and a die hard Tory Rodney Chambers does not represent my views on this matter. Rodney's views have come across as very insular and give the impression of intransigence based on a very narrow view of his vision of what the island of Medway should be achieving which I assume includes independence from the rest of the United Kingdom

Nowhere does he seem to possess any vision of the practicality of politics which embraces the future of jobs, progress, and future prosperity for Kent and Medway citizens. Medway has currently one of the largest unemployment problems around with 8 people announced competing for one job

Rodney Chambers cannot continue to bury his head in the sand. Sustainable jobs are badly needed in Medway now and for the future and we have to think of the interests of all of Medway's population not just a few who will likely undergo the horror and tragedy of relocation for the greater good of all. Using arguments that may have been valid 10 years ago does not augment your case in my view but diminishes it. The Cliff aiport protest fielded something like 100 and 2000 protesters marching. That's not a lot out of 250,000!

As regards getting the support of Medway's MPs I haven't forgotten that 2 of them the Hon(s) Reham Chishty and Mark Reckless were former Councillors and that shortly after the election in 2010 chose to remain in their old posts (I think one still does). So of course they are going to back their former boss as their future seats may depend upon it! As regards Tracey Crouch who is my MP she is the only one who has come up with a sensible alternative to just no and that is Birmingham. I would agree wholeheartedly with her except that I think that the London area has been stipulated as the preferred site. Birmingham is easy to get to now only being an hour away by fast train from Euston(I used to get the 7:45 shuttle in 95) It'll be quicker when the high speed link gets in. Neither Rodney nor the MPs can safely state that they represent a quarter of a million Medway citizens on this particular issue as they have not asked them. A referendum might produce some interesting results on this matter. By that I mean a fair and impartial referendum which poses an objective question not a highly emotive one. Listening to Rodney on the radio the other day, It didn't appear that Rodney wanted the electorate asked in any other way but a subjective one.

19 Jan 2012 11:30 AM

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MedwayMandem wrote:

Although creating many job opportunities and bring Medway back into the times, I believe the plans will destroy such wonderful land that has made up Medway for hundreds of years.

Why don't we just knock Rochester Castle down and build a strip club? That would also create many job opportunities for the youths in Chatham, and other such areas.

19 Jan 2012 11:27 AM

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Wainscott Wonder wrote:

I used to live under the Heathrow flight path, approx the same distance that I do now from the proposed new airport, and to be perfectly honest it had no effect whatsoever on my everyday life and the aircraft noise just faded into the background, so in my opinion it is a fantastic opportunity for this area to boost the economy of both the area and the country.

There are some incredibly short-sighted people who think we can just carry on in this country as we were - who needs links to the rest of the world, eh? As long as we've got some birds migrating near us then we're fine. Rubbish!

Boris Johnson may not be mayor of Medway, but tell me where in London there is a site for a new airport and I'm sure he'd be more than willing to listen. The fact is that it has to be built somewhere outside of London but it will have a direct effect on the financial centre of our country, so why not here?

Our local MPs are only in opposition because they think that's what the people want to hear and it will keep their votes, so we need to voice our support.

We need to start building the infrastructure for our childrens' future NOW before we get left behind.

Stop obstructing the inevitable, and get behind this before it's too late because the sooner it is built, the greater the benefits to everyone.

18 Jan 2012 10:44 PM

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keepskieblue wrote:

Here we go again : more (the same?) overly vocal misguided minority in favour of this environmental atrocity.

This will not be the solution to unemployment you're (pipe) dreaming of - the skilled jobs would be taken by the relocating newly unemployed from one of Londons closed airports (do you really think the government would sanction that many redundancies?) leaving us with McStarbucks cleaners jobs. I'm a Medway resident facing imminent redundancy and am still utterly apposed.Even if there were a brighter picture than that its decades away so please don't rush to be in favour of this for the wrong reasons.

Our MPs are supposedly representative of us & near 100% of them don't want this - shouldn't that tell you something?

Airlines aren't in favour of it - shouldn't that tell you something?

The majority of residents don't want their homes bulldozed - shouldn't THAT count for something. That is not NIMBYism - if anything this is reverse NIMBYism - people who moved to near Heathrow etc did so in the knowledge that there was an airport there - I've lived in Medway all my life without there being an airport here.

That suggests a political game being played to keep wealthy constituents near existing airports happy at our expense. Please don't be so weak minded/willed to be drawn into that.

Look at what happened recently when it was suggested that Essex take the new airport - they are also vehemently opposed. Noone in their right mind wants this.

We must expand existing capacity - Manston are crying out and we have many similar sites around the country.

Hasn't HS2 opened the door to joined up development of existing capacity - wasn't that the idea?

Safety issues : The Montgomery is still unsafe (and is one of the few sites on the planet that is monitored from space), we have fog banks drifting in unpredictably, there is a gas container port nearby, bird strike.

Isn't fuel running out? Aren't we supposed to be cutting emissions (something Johnson keeps going on about in London - I think a new airport outweighs a few London taxis/buses using greener fuel!)

Shouldn't we care about its European recognised environmental status? To those saying no I say go move near an airport then.

Doesn't the cost fly (sorry - inappropriate pun) in the face of austerity measures back in the real world (Johnsons already way over budget with his Olympics so I wouldn't trust his £50bn figure.)

Johnson is mayor of London not Kent - the fact he is causing us so much unnecessary worry is unfair & he should stick to his constituency.

Maybe its just me. Maybe I should go bury my head in the sand and wait for it all to be over - support for this plan does not bode well for this little rock falling through space that we call Earth.

18 Jan 2012 9:27 PM

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Medwayman wrote:

To quote:
"...Salaries for elected local politicians are alarmingly small (way behind day to day employees ie. officers)..."

Fair enough £35k is not quite premiership wages however it is a comfortable living and significantly more than the average "day to day" employee of Medway council.

I agree this difference of opinion is off topic and would like to say that my opinion on the airport is that widespread and well publicised consultation for the residents of Medway should take place. After all are they not our towns? Is it not our community that will be effected be it a positive or a negative effect?

18 Jan 2012 9:05 PM

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Kentish Man In Istanbul wrote:

Yes, as I said, £35k hardly 'footballers' wages', triple it and make it per week and you maybe getting closer. And as for making the comparison to the average salary what is your point? That everyone in the country should earn exactly the same, a bit like Soviet Russia? The Leader of a council is an important and incredibly time-consuming role, and to put it into perspective, this is considerably less than most middle managers' salaries. People certainly do not go into politics for money. Just because he earns a bit more than the average checkout staff in Asda (not saying they dont do a good job because they do, but different level of responsibility) dont shoot the man down. Believe me, £35k is nothing in the real world. Maybe be more constructive and debate his position on the airport, or God forbid, local politics and priorities, not the politicians salaries red herring AGAIN. Borrrrring!

18 Jan 2012 8:41 PM

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jasond79 wrote:

Manston airport has all the infrastructure in place so why not upgrade that.

After all it dont stop people in the Medway area applying for jobs down there.

18 Jan 2012 8:39 PM

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medwayman wrote:

If you want to talk facts please get them right Mr Chambers allowance paid last year £35,548.22. Source being Medway Councils own website. I believe I am also right in saying the average salary for Medway Council staff is approx just £21k.
As for the airport: will it bring investment? Yes. Will it mean more jobs? Yes although that doesn't necessarily mean that they will be filled by people from Medway.

18 Jan 2012 6:53 PM

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Andy wrote:

I think the people of Thanet will be very unlucky to miss out on such a great opportunity as this. Manston Airport already has a Runway, a road link, Rail just needs upgrading and a huge amount of cabbage fields to develop, this could change Thanet from its current position into a new Windsor, high paying jobs, and great life styles.

18 Jan 2012 4:43 PM

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Norsewind wrote:

@commuter
How do you work out that the aircraft will bank left or right at 1000ft when Heathrow departing aircraft bank left or right at over 2000ft and climbing all the time...

18 Jan 2012 4:39 PM

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malcolm g wrote:

The do gooders & people who have nothing better to with their time will always find some thing to moan about. FACT a new airport is needed; FACT the UK has over 2.6 million out of work of which the southeast contributes approximately 6% of that total. FACT, A NEW AIRPORT IN MEDWAY WILL HELP THE ECONOMY & BRING GROWTH FOR ALL TO ENJOY. I WELCOME A NEW AIRPORT IN KENT.

18 Jan 2012 4:28 PM

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commuter wrote:

Before just seeing job and development etc, maybe a few more people should study the plans. Have a look at the air corridors once the aircraft take off from the runways. At a height of only about 1000 ft the aircraft will bank left and right, with left being right over the Medway towns. Try spending a day at Windsor or Kew Gardens to witness the noise and constant din and then say you want an airport on your doorstep. And Heathrow doesn't permit night flights. As for jobs, most of these are for skilled workers who will be transferred from Heathrow in the short to medium term!!

18 Jan 2012 3:58 PM

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Ex Old Bill wrote:

Fantastic news bring it on not far from us, it will bring so many jobs. It is projects like this that will get us out of the doom and gloom mood.

18 Jan 2012 3:56 PM

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hmeunues2000 wrote:

Local businesses will greatly benefit from the airport hence many younger job seekers will also. You should visit facebook and type in Isle of Grain airport Supporters

18 Jan 2012 3:41 PM

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M wrote:

Cllr Rodney Chambers needs to look outside the box, but we should be cautious of any massive development (yes I do live in Medway). It will have an effect on us all but we can use this to our advantage. Maidstone Borough Council opposed the Channel Rail Station at the bottom of Bluebell hill - it won and guess what the railway still was built and no one could get on the dam thing!!! Medway Council must accept that firstly it will come and they must look to working with any proposal for the benefit of the Medway towns. Boxley again fought the railway - it lost but it could have negotiate a small by bypass to the village in the schedule rather than wasting untold costs to the developers. Think again councillors it will come look to the future controlled development will bring huge benefits to the Thames corridor but will have little or no effect on the 'Garden of England'. I would add though that anyone affected by this should be rewarded and any compulsory purchase etc should be more than generous. It Will happen.

18 Jan 2012 3:24 PM

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Kentish Man In Istanbul wrote:

Lets get facts straight - first the Leader of Medway Council does not earn 'footballers' wages', in fact salaries for local elected politicians are alarmingly small (way behind day to day employees i.e. officers) and most local politicians either do the job as a stepping stone to national politics (usually the younger ones) and the rest just do it for the good of the people, so whether you agree with Rodney or like him or you don't, lets not just 'shoot the politician' on completely false charges, it just makes you look ignorant and actually detracts from the subject at hand.

18 Jan 2012 3:17 PM

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Pam wrote:

I think all the do gooders who are objecting to the airport, haven't got a clue where Hoo is!!!
I think it will be excellent for the area, encourage employment and & boost the economy in Kent.

BRING IT ON!!!

18 Jan 2012 3:11 PM

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Babs wrote:

All you people keep on about 'infrastructure'. That is the biggest problem, more houses needed, not enough water now without threatening to put in place water saving measures (why do you think meters have been/or are being installed), roads/railways are clogged up. Etc., etc. How on earth is Kent supposed to cope with a major airport. If we believe what we told today, it would replace Heathrow not be additional.

Kent used to be the Garden of England, now it is one big car park.

18 Jan 2012 2:32 PM

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medwayeye wrote:

once again we have the leader of medway council speaking on behalf of thepeople of medway without any consultations with us just as they did over chatham bus station.why does he not shut up and see the benefits to medway with its massive unemployment problem.

18 Jan 2012 1:55 PM

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Norsewind wrote:

Can some one explain why people of Medway are against this .. i mean the length of time these things take before a spade is driven into the ground you are looking at perhaps 15 20 years time so its not going to happen overnight, and if or when it does get the go ahead how will noise affect Medway?
As some one pointed out, its a win win situation.

18 Jan 2012 1:55 PM

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Zedboy wrote:

Excellent news. More jobs, improved infrastructure as well as securing the nation's future. In addition, Sheppey gets concreted over as an in-flight service road... win, win, win methinks?!

18 Jan 2012 1:26 PM

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medway wrote:

Excellent news that this is moving forward at last. I frankly don't give a stuff about a few wilds birds if it means that jobs and prosperity can be brought to an area that is clearly on its knees and dying. Get building - soon!

18 Jan 2012 1:03 PM

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jasond79 wrote:

I enjoy sitting in my back garden in the summer relaxing and listening to the birds tweeting away and to be frank I dont want to sit in the back garden and listen to a load of noise coming from plane engines !!!

18 Jan 2012 11:13 AM

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Media_agency wrote:

But guys the new crossing is being looked at and will be part of this... Plus large volumes will be using the rail to get to the airport, and it will be accessible both from the north and the south of the estuary... no need for anything to grind to a halt.

18 Jan 2012 11:06 AM

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jasond79 wrote:

Get back to London Boris, we don't want an airport down here !

As everyone else is saying we cant even build a new bridge over the Thames let alone build an airport.

Stop living in a dream world and look elsewhere.

18 Jan 2012 11:02 AM

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Blah Blah Blah wrote:

Great.. so this will most probably get the go ahead.. Boris said that Heathrow was in the "wrong place" but take a look at the location of this airport!
We already have enough through traffic from the rest of the UK coming straight through Kent to get the channel tunnel/Dover.. Now we will have more traffic travelling through to use this airport too... Kent has at the moment only one escape route out to the rest of the UK and that's the Dartford crossing which already can not cope with the amount of traffic due to the tolls.. if they are not going to go build this 2nd crossing then Kent will come to a stand still, also the only main route from the M25 to "Boris island" will be the A2.. and that also cant cope at the best of times with normal rush hour traffic!

18 Jan 2012 10:40 AM

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Media_agency wrote:

A project like this will provide a sound economic future for our children and our childrens children. We as a population have to look forward and not stay where we are. North Kent is floundering, and has been ever since the Dockyard closed. Hi unemployment, poor prospects, and some areas with unacceptable levels of poverty. This project would give the area a life line and a purpose. Environmental aspects need to be considered, and if they are too grave then yes the plan should be adjusted to compensate. I want security and a future for my children, and future grand children. Please people of North Kent, get behind this and make Kent Great!

18 Jan 2012 10:25 AM

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Wheep wrote:

"M" do you live in Medway? I for one living here do not want or need this airport. We don't have the space for extra road/rail networks never mind the air space for more planes. When my husband flew to US a few years ago his plane was empty!!!! About time Boris stopped trying to be Mayor of Medway and concentrated on the problems he has in London. BORIS WE ARE NOT LONDON!!!!!

18 Jan 2012 10:25 AM

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M wrote:

This was always going to happen, not all bad. The SE can now prosper and with the new infastructure the benefits are tremendous. When built it will have minimum impact - remember the opposition to the Channel Tunnel rail link, this has been adsorbed into the country side and hardly made any major problems. Look to the benefits the new airport will bring. Well done Boris.

18 Jan 2012 10:17 AM

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