Plans for £2bn Paramount Park in Swanscombe reignite calls for Thames Estuary airport
A cross-section of Lord
Foster's plans for a new Thames Estuary airport
by Alan McGuinness
Politicians should "come to their senses" and examine the
idea of a Thames Estuary airport after plans for Paramount
Park in north Kent were unveiled.
That's the view of campaign group Demand Regeneration in North
Kent, which said the huge project should be looked at more
closely in light of the unveiling of the £2billion tourist resort on the Swanscombe
peninsula.
Campaign director Clive Lawrence said the news was a
"historic moment because, up until now, all political parties have
set themselves against large projects like this".
He said: "Can we now look forward to a change of heart by the
elected members so that they look at the potential benefits of a
hub airport with fresh eyes?
"Surely they cannot support one big project but not another?"
An airport could make the area "the envy of the whole of Europe",
Mr Lawrence claimed.
A computer generated
image of how Paramount Park could look
Several ideas have been put forward for
a airports in north Kent.
Last year, renowned architect Lord Foster announced a
multi-billion pounds scheme to build a huge hub airport in the
Thames Estuary.
Lord Foster's scheme would be built on the Hoo Peninsula and
would more than double the capacity of Heathrow
- handling up to 150 million passengers each year, 24 hours
every day.
It would have four runways, each 4km long, and would have an
integrated rail station beneath the passenger terminal.
Last month, architects Gensler revealed designs for a
futuristic-style airport in the Thames Estuary.
A government-commissioned report will examine if there could be
a new hub airport in Kent or elsewhere in the south east - but the
results will not be published until after the next election.
Mark Reckless, who represents Rochester and Strood, said it was
"ridiculous" to link the two projects together.
He said the Swanscombe project shows investment can be attracted to
the area without an airport.
What do you think? Join the debate below.
09/10/12
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