Essex County Council submission to Airports Commission warns against “super-airport” at Stansted
ESSEX County Council has warned the Airports Commission against proposals for an “unwanted and unviable” super-airport at Stansted. It has instead called for greater focus on realistic, affordable and practical options that will allow “sensible growth” in Essex. Earlier this summer, Stansted’s owner, MAG agreed with Boris Johnson that 4 runways at Stansted was one solution to the alleged airport capacity shortage. Essex CC have produced a new report showing that plans to close Heathrow to replace it with a massive airport at Stansted or in the Thames estuary would be too costly and disruptive to deliver. Council leader Cllr David Finch said the UK does not have the time or the money to waste on impractical or undeliverable schemes that “could suck up a sum of taxpayers’ money equivalent to twice the UK’s defence budget.” Essex say any plan for a giant super-hub airport at Stansted is completely unacceptable to the council and Essex residents, and that “If ministers in London do impose further capacity on our airport, they need to know that a bill comes with that.”
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The report, which is the Essex County Council submission to the Airports Commission, is at Flights of fancy: getting real on aviation (21 pages)
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24 September 2013
Essex County Council warns against super-airport at Stansted
Written by MICHAEL JARVIS
ESSEX County Council (ECC) has warned the commission looking into the future of aviation in the South East against proposals for an “unwanted and unviable” super-airport at Stansted.
It has instead called for greater focus on realistic, affordable and practical options that will allow “sensible growth” in Essex.
The Airports Commission, chaired by economist Sir Howard Davies, has been asked by the Government to look into whether the UK needs more airport capacity in order to cope with increased demand for air travel.
It has been asked to make short-term recommendations by the end of December and to provide a long-term plan when it submits its final report in the summer of 2015 – after the next General Election.
Earlier this summer, Stansted’s owner, Manchester Airports Group (MAG), agreed with Mayor of London Boris Johnson that four runways at Stansted was one solution to the capacity issue – while stressing that making full use of the low-cost base’s 35 million passengers-a-year single-runway capacity is the priority.
In a report published today (Tuesday, September 24), Flights of fancy: getting real on aviation, ECC said that proposals like closing Heathrow and building five-runway “super-hub airports”, either at Stansted or in the Thames Estuary, would be too costly and disruptive to deliver.
Council leader Cllr David Finch said: “The UK does not have the time or the money to waste on unpractical or undeliverable schemes that could suck up a sum of taxpayers’ money equivalent to twice the UK’s defence budget.
“Any proposal for a giant super-hub airport at Stansted is completely unacceptable to the council and Essex residents.”
While ECC supports sensible growth at Stansted, it does not believe the case for a second runway exists at the moment.
However, it understands that additional runway capacity at airports across the South East – including Gatwick and Stansted – is likely to be inevitable in the long term.
Cllr Finch added: “Stansted has the scope to more than double its annual passenger and freight numbers before anyone even thinks of the need for a second runway, but this commission has to look at long-term options and we have to be realistic about that.
“If ministers in London do impose further capacity on our airport, they need to know that a bill comes with that.
“We would need assurances that the environmental impact would be minimised and that there would be massive investment in road and rail infrastructure for Essex.”
In July, Uttlesford District Council – the planning authority for Stansted Airport – similarly looked to ground fears that Stansted could become a four-runway airport. link and link (copied below).
Deputy leader Cllr Jackie Cheetham, who chairs the Stansted Airport Advisory Panel, said: “The council feels the commission should be doing more to encourage a national solution to this issue rather than focusing on meeting demand in the South East, as it is doing at present.
“The new owners at Stansted have made it clear that they regard utilising the unused capacity at existing airports as the best solution for air passengers. The council thinks this is a sensible approach.
“Stansted has planning permission to accommodate 35 million passengers a year but is currently handling around 17.7 million, so it could double the number of passengers without needing to expand.
“We have long campaigned for improved rail connections to the airport and faster journey times to London. In our view there would need to be a commitment to provide these ahead of any increase in passengers, let alone any possible future expansion. This would have to be done in a way that didn’t adversely affect rail services for other non-airport travellers and commuters.”
Cllr Cheetham added: “It is worth pointing out that the Government is several years away from making any decision regarding the Commission’s findings and that airport operators are many years away from acting on any policy decisions that may arise from them.”
Stansted’s biggest customer, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, has recommended that all three London airports – Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted – be allowed to add an extra runway “at the earliest possible date” and rubbished any new greenfield airport plan such as “Boris Island”.
Boss Michael O’Leary said: “Three new runways at the three competing London airports is the only sensible and consumer-focused solution to the chronic runway capacity shortages in London and the South East.
“We cannot wait 30 years and allow billions of pounds to be wasted on ‘Boris Island’.
“Sadly, the very appointment of the Davies Commission is just the latest example of the spineless approach of David Cameron’s Government, which talks about stimulating growth and job creation, but, instead of pursuing growth policies, panders to tree huggers and Nimbys.”
Last week, it was announced that Ryanair – Stansted’s biggest customer – and MAG had signed a 10-year deal to add an estimated 7,000 new jobs and almost eight million extra passengers.
Under the agreement, Ryanair must deliver an increase in passengers at Stansted of more than 50 per cent – growing from 13.2m today to almost 21m in 2023 – in return for a “modest” discount in fees.
Mr O’Leary made it clear he was prepared to cannibalise Ryanair’s services at other airports to keep his part of the bargain and land an enlarged fleet at the airport from next April – in advance of new aircraft arriving in September.
In all, the low-cost carrier will base 43 aircraft at Stansted, up from 37, servicing 120 routes on more than 2,000 weekly flights and will add Bordeaux, Dortmund, Lisbon and Rabat to its network.
The expansion will also see a change in flying patterns away from the morning and evening peaks to a more even daily distribution as MAG seeks to make full use of Stansted’s single runway.
The Ryanair deal follows June’s agreement with Stansted’s second biggest airline, Easyjet, to grow its traffic from 2.8m travellers a year to six million over the next five years.
Stansted’s managing director, Andrew Harrison, said the latest pact was far from Stansted putting all its eggs in a low-cost basket, but in fact key to unlocking a new phase in the airport’s evolution: Ryanair will work with MAG, using its connectivity to lure long-haul operators to Essex.
“In getting growth with Ryanair, we are setting the scene for the growth in long haul, too,” he said.
MAG’s chief commercial officer, Ken O’Toole, was emphatic: Stansted’s catchment area has 46m passengers but serves just 17m, and his aim was to use MAG’s long-haul contacts at Manchester, where 80 airlines operate, to go head to head with Heathrow and Gatwick.
He said: “We acquired Stansted in February believing we could significantly expand the services on offer by competing more effectively to make the most of the airport’s untapped potential and spare capacity.
“MAG wants to make Stansted the best airport in London, so we will continue to compete hard to win business from airlines in our drive for passenger growth and to provide customers with even more choice.”
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Essex County Council press release:
‘Time to Get Real on Aviation’ says Essex County Council
24.9.2013
Essex County Council (ECC) has warned the government’s expert Commission on aviation that it must not submit proposals for an “unwanted and unviable” giant super airport at Stansted and has called instead for greater focus on realistic, affordable and practical options that will allow “sensible growth” in Essex.
In ‘Flights of fancy: getting real on aviation’ published today, ECC says proposals like closing Heathrow and building five-runway “super-hub airports” either at Stansted or on the Thames Estuary, would be too costly and disruptive to deliver.
County Councillor David Finch, Leader of ECC said: “The UK does not have the time or the money to waste on unpractical or undeliverable schemes that could suck up a sum of taxpayer’s money equivalent to twice the UK’s defence budget. Any proposal for a giant super-hub airport at Stansted is completely unacceptable to the council and Essex residents. “
While ECC does support sensible growth at Stansted, it does not believe the case for a second runway exists at the present time. However, the Council does recognise that additional runway capacity at airports across the south east – including Gatwick and Stansted – are likely to be inevitable in the long term.
Councillor Finch said: “Stansted has the scope to more than double its annual passenger and freight numbers before anyone even thinks of the need for a second runway but this Commission has to look at long term options and we have to be realistic about that. If Ministers in London do impose further capacity on our airport, they need to know that a bill comes with that. We would need assurances that the environmental impact would be minimised and that there would be massive investment in road and rail infrastructure for Essex.”
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Tuesday 23 July 2013
Uttlesford District Council backs ‘sensible’ growth at Stansted Airport
Written by SINEAD HOLLAND (Herts and Essex Observer)
“If the commission decides more airport capacity is required, the question it will have to address is whether this should be achieved by building a brand new airport or airports, or by expanding and exploiting the currently unused capacity at existing airports.
“The council feels the commission should be doing more to encourage a national solution to this issue rather than focusing on meeting demand in the South East, as it is doing at present.
“The new owners at Stansted have made it clear that they regard utilising the unused capacity at existing airports as the best solution for air passengers. The council thinks this is a sensible approach.
“Stansted has planning permission to accommodate 35 million passengers a year but is currently handling around 17.7 million, so it could double the number of passengers without needing to expand.
“Notwithstanding this, the council is fully engaged with the commission’s consultation process. We have submitted our views in response to all four discussion papers it has issued to date and are currently making representations on the fifth paper, which concerns aviation noise.
“We have long campaigned for improved rail connections to the airport and faster journey times to London. In our view there would need to be a commitment to provide these ahead of any increase in passengers, let alone any possible future expansion. This would have to be done in a way that didn’t adversely affect rail services for other non-airport travellers and commuters.”
Cllr Cheetham added: “It is worth pointing out that the Government is several years away from making any decision regarding the Commission’s findings and that airport operators are many years away from acting on any policy decisions that may arise from them.
“However, the council is committed to ensuring that the views of local residents are taken into account by making representations to the commission throughout this process.”
Stansted’s biggest customer, Irish low-cost airlin Ryanair, has recommended that all three London airports – Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted – be allowed to add an extra runway “at the earliest possible date” and rubbished any new greenfield airport plan such as “Boris Island”.
Boss Michael O’Leary said: “Three new runways at the three competing London airports is the only sensible and consumer-focused solution to the chronic runway capacity shortages in London and the South East.
“We cannot wait 30 years and allow billions of pounds to be wasted on ‘Boris Island’.
“Sadly, the very appointment of the Davies Commission is just the latest example of the spineless approach of David Cameron’s Government, which talks about stimulating growth and job creation, but, instead of pursuing growth policies, panders to tree huggers and Nimbys.”
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Sir Alan Haselhurst [Stansted MP] slaps down Boris’ expansion plans for Stansted Airport
by Sinead Holland
17.7.2013
STANSTED Airport’s MP has shot down suggestions from the Mayor of London that the single-runway hub could quadruple in size and replace Heathrow.
Sir Alan Haselhurst responded swiftly after fellow Conservative Boris Johnson outlined his three options for solving the UK’s aviation capacity crisis in a meeting at City Hall in London on Monday (July 15).
The top Tory, touted as a future Conservative leader, said that he now favoured an “inner estuary solution” and a new transport hub on Isle of Grain in Kent, rather than the Thames Estuary new-build he had previously championed, dubbed “Boris Island”.
He ruled out expansion at Heathrow as “crackers” and said the only viable alternative to a completely new project was massive expansion at Stansted, adding three runways.
The message from his office was clear: “Developing a major four-runway airport at Stansted would have the attraction of building on existing infrastructure and, being sited in a relatively sparsely populated region, Stansted has none of the environmental or wildlife issues that would need to be overcome in the estuary.”
Architects have already come up with a masterplan for the scheme as part of the Airports Commission’s consideration of the issue.
However, Sir Alan said that Boris’s Stansted suggestion was “absurd”.
“When Boris Johnson says that Stansted has none of the environmental or wildlife issues that would need to be overcome in the estuary, it suggests that he knows nothing about north-west Essex. Nor can he have read the report following the Airport Inquiries 1981-85 in which the inspector concluded that even a second runway at Stansted would be ‘an environmental catastrophe’.
“When Boris states that a major four-runway airport at Stansted ‘would have the attraction of building on existing infrastructure’, what on earth does he mean? Surface access by road is inadequate and the rail line from Liverpool Street is a joke.
“When he says that a new hub airport would be able to support more than 375,000 new jobs by 2050, where does he expect the people filling them to be housed? The present population of Uttlesford is 79,400 and even at this moment the council is having the greatest difficulty in persuading local residents where to put the 3,300 extra homes needed by 2026.”
He warned: “I have long believed that it would be wrong to build another huge airport for London at an inland site, whether Stansted or elsewhere. Boris is right first time when he talks of an inner estuary site. He should stick to that and take his eyes off rural England.”
His view is shared by Stop Stansted Expansion, which pointed out Uttlesford is one of only two local authority districts in the country with more than 2,000 pre-1700 listed buildings.
Chairman Peter Sanders said: “Boris Johnson’s dismissal of our local heritage and landscape is an affront to all the people of north-west Essex and East Herts. It seems clear that he has absolutely no knowledge of the area.”
He added: “As Mayor of London, of course, he has no need to involve himself in our affairs. He is responsible only for what goes on in London and he depends only on Londoners for votes.
“It is surely no coincidence that he rejects expanding Heathrow, which is within his constituency, and all of his options for airport expansion are well outside his constituency. It remains our view that there is no need for any extra runways in the South East.”
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) bought Stansted from BAA in a £1.5bn deal earlier this year and has so far been tight-lipped about any long-term expansion plans.
A spokesman said in response to the latest row: “MAG believes that all options should be considered for the short-list to be finalised by the Airports Commission at the end of the year. MAG will make its submission to the commission at the end of this week.”
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