Standard says Heathrow planning new runway to the south-west in Stanwell Moor area

The Standard reports that Heathrow is planning a new runway south-west of the airport, in one of three options that the airport will submit to the Airports Commission. The south-west runway would destroy the village of Staines Moor, and might be just north of the two large reservoirs, the George VI and the Staines reservoir. The Standard believes that Heathrow is no longer seriously considering a northern runway, at Sipson. A south-west runway might mean the demolition of fewer properties unless Stanwell itself was destroyed. Heathrow knows it can only get another runway if it can persuade enough people that the noise burden from extra flights will not be significantly larger. Therefore the airport has been trying to hard to convince those under flight paths that there will be improvements. A new runway to the south-west would increase aircraft noise for  Feltham, Twickenham, Ham, Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common – where there would be intense opposition. Daniel Moylan, the Mayor’s chief aviation adviser, said: “Even to discuss this is to add a new blight to the lives of thousands of Londoners. It is further proof Heathrow expansion is environmentally and politically impossible.”

Heathrow Airport said it will give full details of its submission before the  19th July deadline.

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New Heathrow runway plan revealed

New runway: tarmac planned to the south-west of the airport
by Nicholas Cecil  (Evening Standard)

6 June 2013      See maps of location – map and aerial – below

Heathrow is planning a new runway south-west of the airport, the Standard reveals today.

The development in the Stanwell Moor area is one of two or three options to be submitted to the Davies Commission into airport expansion, according to well-placed sources.

Bosses at Heathrow have torn up the blueprint for a third runway to the north of the existing two runways, which was backed by the previous Labour government but ran into strong opposition from Londoners and environmentalists.

The Standard has been told the favoured new option is to build on land stretching from the existing airport towards Stanwell Moor village and north of local reservoirs. This could mean few properties being demolished.

Alternatively, the village could be significantly pulled down, say aviation experts, with generous compensation for locals. Heathrow chiefs are understood to have come up with the plan after examining at least 50 options for expansion.

It is expected to include a series of measures to mitigate additional noise from tens of thousands of extra flights. The bosses have already rejected most proposals, including one for a new four-runway “superhub” airport close to Slough or 15 minutes from Oxford.

A plan from a group led by Concorde’s longest-serving pilot, Captain Jock Lowe — which would see the two existing runways extended to create four — has also been dismissed.

Aviation experts say the Stanwell Moor proposal shows that Heathrow is seeking to minimise the noise impact of a bigger airport, seen as the main obstacle to its expansion.

It would also be in Spelthorne, a  borough housing many Heathrow staff and whose Conservative MP Kwasi Kwarteng has led calls for a third or even a fourth runway. The development would not be expected to in- crease disturbance significantly for most residents living under the flightpaths of the current two runways.

But there could be more noise over Feltham, Twickenham, Ham, Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common, which is likely to spark a major campaign — including by Stanwell Moor residents — against the scheme.

John Stewart, the chairman of anti-Heathrow expansion group HACAN, said: “This is an attempt to reduce the impact for residents but our concern remains over the huge overall increase in numbers of planes over London a third runway would bring.” The proposal effectively meant the plan for a northern third runway had “no chance of seeing the light of day,” he added.

Daniel Moylan, the Mayor’s chief aviation adviser, said: “Even to discuss this is to add a new blight to the lives of thousands of Londoners. It is further proof Heathrow expansion is environmentally and politically impossible.”

Heathrow has not yet made a decision on whether to put forward one scheme as its “favoured” option when it makes its submission to the Airports Commission, headed by Sir Howard Davies.

Spelthorne councillor Marian Rough, of the Heathrow Airport consultative committee, said there would be local opposition to a runway affecting Stanwell Moor but added: “We can’t afford not to consider all alternatives.”

Heathrow Airport declined to comment, saying it will give full details of its submission in mid-July.

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‘If it got any worse, I could not live here. It is dreadful’

RESIDENTS of a village next to Terminal 5 today said a third runway would destroy their community.

People in Stanwell Moor said that when there are no planes flying over, the village of 1,300 residents — which has a hall, two pubs, a few shops, nearby stables and the River Coln running through it — is a pleasant place to live.

But they warned that it would be ruined forever if the third runway plan was given the go-ahead. They feared the village would become “blighted” like nearby Sipson, where many residents have moved out because of Heathrow noise.

However, some admitted that the noise — which in some houses reaches up to 100 decibels during landings and take-offs — and pollution levels are already so bad that they would happily take compulsory purchase orders. Kathleen Croft, 69, whose house is less than half a mile away from Terminal 5, said: “Normally, living here is like living in Iraq. You cannot talk to somebody standing next to you in my garden.”

Mrs Croft, chairwoman of Stanwell Moor Residents Association, said at peak periods there is one flight every 45 seconds. She added: “If it got any worse than this I could not live in it, I just couldn’t, it really is dreadful.”

John Leer, 79, said of the proposal: “In one way, I’m against it but in another way I am all for it because this village has gone down so much because of the airport.”

However, mother of five Amy Pearce, 37, who has lived in the village for 17 years, said: “The only time it bothers me is when we’re in the garden entertaining with friends and you’re talking and you have to say, ‘Wait a minute’ when the plane goes over.”

Miranda Bryant

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/exclusive-new-heathrow-runway-plan-revealed-8647410.html

 

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Tour of the Heathrow villages with Lucinda Lambton

There is a Radio 4 edition of Saturday Live, on Saturday 1st June at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0210pl6  with Lucinda Lambton doing a tour around the villages around Heathrow, and rejoicing in their history and buildings.  Starts 14.45 minutes in, and ends  at 21.08 minutes.

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Stanwell Moor sw of Heathrow

 

Stanwell Moor aerial

The large green area to the west of the King George VI reservoir is Staines Moor, which is a SSSI  – see below.  It is bordered to the north by Stanwell Moor.

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Heathrow’s latest plan for southern 3rd runway “R3S” would be death to Stanwell Moor

Date added: June 8, 2013

Plans by Heathrow to build a third runway to the south west of the existing runways have met with dismay by those who would have their homes demolished, and their local area ruined. The new southern runway, already dubbed “R3S”, is regarded as both cheaper and more attractive than the northern option. Simon Calder says it would be used exclusively by smaller jets – the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 series – which are somewhat less noisy than wide-bodied aircraft. Also that the eastern end of the new runway would be located about a mile further west than the existing two runways. Arriving and departing aircraft would therefore be significantly higher when flying over the capital. Heathrow apparently also says there would be no need for a 6th terminal, as the runway could be accessed from Terminal 4 (Skyteam alliance) and Terminal 5 (BA). Much of the land on which the new runway would be built is currently covered by airport-related buildings, including cargo warehouses and car parks. Simon Calder thinks these could be re-located “with little fuss”. But the western end would encroach on Stanwell Moor, a post-war development less than a mile from Terminal 5, where residents have not been consulted in any way on the proposals.

Click here to view full story…

 

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Map indicating areas that would be overflown, by approaches from the east over London

Heathrow approach paths from the east

 


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Staines Moor is a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest)

Staines Moor borders the southern edge of Stanwell Moor.

http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/unit_details.cfm?situnt_id=1008715

with a Natural England map of the reservoirs SSSI at map

Staines Moor is a large area of alluvial meadow that has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, along with two adjacent reservoirs (King George IV Reservoir and Staines Reservoir). The moor covers 117 hectares (290 acres) and the whole SSSI covers some 515 hectares (1270 acres). The moor is managed by Spelthorne Borough Council in partnership with the Moormasters (see below). Map:

Staines Moor is one of England’s largest areas of neutral grassland that has never been extracted for gravel or agriculturally improved. Because chalky residue brought down by the Colne mixes with the silty Thames Valley soil during times of flood, the moor has acquired a unique ecostructure, with a rich and diverse flora including plants not found elsewhere in Surrey. Grazing by cattle and horses helps to this flora. The moor is crossed by the Colne and Wraysbury rivers and also features ponds, ditches, marsh, scrub and woodland. The large reservoirs on either side of the moor help to attract wildlife to the area.

There are details of the very many species of birds that can be seen on Staines Moor SSSI at

http://londonbirders.wikia.com/wiki/Staines_Moor

The King George VI Reservoir  is to the east of Staines Moor. The reservoir carries nationally important wintering populations of tufted duckspochard,goosander and goldeneye.

Staines Moor is one of the last remaining pastures of the medieval Manor of Staines. Originally a clearing in the Forest of Windsor it has remained unploughed for over 1,000 years and has been registered common land since 1065. Registered commoners, who must live in the old parish of Staines, are entitled to graze one horse or two cattle on the moor but may assign their right to other commoners. The grazing is managed by elected representatives of the commoners, known as Moormasters.

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There is more about the birdlife on Staines Moor and on Stanwell Moor at http://www.leedingain.com/p/staines-moor.html

 

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 Revealed: Heathrow Airport to submit plans for third runway south west of the airport

6.6.2013 (Hacan)

Heathrow Airport (formerly known as BAA) wants to see a third runway built close to the village of Stanwell Moor, just south-west of the exiting airport (link to Standard article). In leaked news it emerged today that the airport operator will submit plans next month to the Airports Commission for a new runway in the Stanwell Moor area. Heathrow Airport’s submission may contain other options but this is thought to be their favoured one.

They will drop their previous plans for a new runway north of the airport which would have demolished the village of Sipson.

A new runway to the south-west of the airport is likely to require less demolition of properties. Heathrow Airport will also argue that the new flight paths will overfly fewer communities.

To the east of the airport places in the firing line would be Feltham, Twickenham, Ham, Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common and Tooting. To the west, the areas around Windsor Great Park would be most affected.

It is expected that the plans for a third runway will be accompanied by the noise mitigation measures Heathrow Airport published last week. These included steeper descent approaches, less noisy planes and the naming and fining of the noisiest aircraft.

Heathrow Airport is expected to argue that at this stage they have no plans for a 4th runway. They also intend to retain runway alternation on the existing runways.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, which represents residents under the existing flight paths, said, “This is a clever plan which Heathrow hopes might neutralize opposition amongst some of the communities and local authorities which successfully opposed a new runway to the north of the airport [eg. Hillingdon]. It would create less noise disturbance than a northern runway but we will oppose it because a whole new runway of planes will be massively disturbing to vast swathes of people across London and the South East. Flight numbers will rise from 480,000 a year to over 700,000.”

 

ENDS

The Airports Commission was set up by the Government last year to assess whether more airport capacity is required in London and the South East. Proposals for new runways or airports need to be with the Commission by 19th July. The Commission will publish an Interim report at the end of this year in which it will short-list the proposals it intends to examine further. Its final report will be published in summer 2015, two months after the next General Election.

www.hacan.org.uk

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Bid to rename village as Stanwell on the Moor

From Get Surrey,  28.2.2013

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2129917_bid_to_rename_village_as_stanwell_on_the_moor

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It’s ‘Heathrow or nothing’ for airlines – according to BAR UK

Most airlines that are unable to fly to Heathrow due to a lack of space take their business away from Britain to rival hub airports abroad, the head of a powerful aviation body has warned.

By  (Telegraph)

1 Jun 2013

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), which represents all of the major foreign as well as British carriers, said airlines frequently choose rival airports abroad rather than operating from another UK base such as Gatwick or Stansted.

Dale Keller, chief executive of BAR UK, has told the government-backed Airports Commission that it cannot be assumed airlines will take their business to another UK airport if they are unable to get slots at Heathrow, which is operating at close to full capacity.

A survey of the organisation’s members shows that most carriers will in fact go abroad to competitor hubs such as Amsterdam Schiphol or Paris Charles de Gaulle, rather than operate flights from one of London’s other airports.

As a result, business lost at Heathrow often means business is lost to Britain, the survey’s findings show.

In a survey of 51 of BAR UK’s members – which include Delta, American Airlines, Air China, Emirates and British Airways – more than half of respondents said they have certainly, or probably, diverted flights or capacity to other countries rather than to UK airports in the past two years because of capacity constraints at Heathrow. Mr Keller said most long-haul carriers are interested in flying from hub airports, where they can take advantage of local as well as transfer traffic to make routes profitable. “Because we don’t have another hub in the UK, that’s why the UK could miss out,” he said.

Mr Keller said major airlines are already free to grow at other London airports, such as Stansted, where there is plenty of spare capacity but are still clamouring for slots at Heathrow.

Foreign carriers have no particular loyalty to Britain and will move their business to rival hubs abroad if it means routes will be more profitable, Mr Keller added.

Aviation bosses such as James Hogan, the president of Etihad, have previously warned that airlines from fast-growth countries in the Middle East and China will be forced to operate their aircraft from rival hubs in Europe and even the US if the UK fails to make a clear and swift decision on increasing hub capacity.

The Airports Commission, headed by the former Financial Services chairman Sir Howard Davies, will publish a report by the end of this year on how Britain’s aviation capacity problems can be improved in the short and medium term. The commission’s final recommendations on where to build new runways in the South East won’t be delivered until 2015.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10093446/Its-Heathrow-or-nothing-for-airlines.html

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