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Business lobby group, “London First” calling for airport action – including better rail/road links to Gatwick and Stansted
Chief executives of 25 of London’s leading businesses will tomorrow confront Sir Howard Davies to demand immediate action to fix Britain’s (alleged) “airports capacity crisis.” Members of lobby group London First say that British business will fall behind without three fixes for its airports: an immediate rise in the number of flights operating at Heathrow, an independent “noise regulator” to protect residents, and investment to improve road and rail links to Stansted and Gatwick. Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: “Debating the pros and cons of new airports and runways is all very well. But the more pressing concern is what we are going to do right now to increase our connectivity with emerging markets and grow our economy.” Among those attending the meeting will be bosses of CitiGroup, CLS Group, Nomura, Linklaters, Ernst & Young and 3i Group. “London First” is an aggressively pro-growth lobby organisation, whose stated mission is to “make London the best city in the world in which to do business.” It has consistently pushed for Heathrow growth, with more aircraft noise for London residents, over recent years.
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Businesses call for airport action
Chief executives of 25 of London’s leading businesses will tomorrow confront Government aviation supremo Sir Howard Davies to demand immediate action to fix Britain’s airports capacity crisis.
Members of lobby group London First say that British business will fall behind without three fixes for its airports: an immediate rise in the number of flights operating at Heathrow, an independent “noise regulator” to protect residents, and investment to improve road and rail links to Stansted and Gatwick.
Baroness Jo Valentine, chief executive of London First, said: “Debating the pros and cons of new airports and runways is all very well. But the more pressing concern is what we are going to do right now to increase our connectivity with emerging markets and grow our economy.”
Among those attending the meeting will be bosses of CitiGroup, CLS Group, Nomura, Linklaters, Ernst & Young and 3i Group.
In December, Sir Howard will release an interim report proposing short-term fixes before making his full report in 2015.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/businesses-call-for-airport-action-8794627.html
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More on what London First want at
http://londonfirst.co.uk/campaigns/aviaton-capacity/
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From London First’s website:
How improved rail links can unlock London’s spare air capacity
Today, Monday 2 September, the London Assembly has recommended improving rail links to London’s main airports as a way to unlock spare capacity, specifically at Gatwick and Stansted. London First supports this as one of many a short-term solutions to the UK’s air capacity crisis.
Read ‘Flight Path to Growth: The case for increasing London’s air capacity’
We recently submitted a series of recommendations to the Airports Commission, one of which was for the Commission to call on Government and Network Rail to deliver a step change improvement in the capacity and quality of rail services to Gatwick and Stansted.
Read London First’s full submission to the Airports Commission here
Rail services to Gatwick are hampered by poor quality rolling stock and uncertainty over the future of non-stop services, while Stansted suffers from historic underinvestment in a slow service that does not operate at times of peak demand. Both should be brought up to the same standards as those serving other airports, notably Heathrow, to strengthen these airports’ ability to attract airlines and passengers and maximise use of London’s available capacity as an interim solution.
Read more on London First’s campaign to increased aviation capacity for London
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“In our view, the current cap on ATMs at Heathrow
should be lifted with mixed mode runway use
and credible measures to alleviate the effect
of increased noise;, while at the same time
Gatwick and Stansted should be deregulated
to spur greater competition.” – London First. link
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“London First” calls for more intensive use of Heathrow runways with mixed mode in submission to Airports Commission
“London First” gets their letter, signed by over 40 business people, in the Sunday Times
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London First report wants 3rd Heathrow runway, and mixed mode on both its runways, as well as a new south east hub airport
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