Report backs Boris' Sheppey airport vision

AN AIRPORT off Sheppey is one step closer to becoming a reality after a Boris Johnson-appointed study backed the idea, but councils are teaming up to stop it from happening.

Putting the £40 billion, airport with up to six runways on artificial islands just a few miles off the Sheppey coast would be the best option to prevent more building at Heathrow, according to the Thames Estuary Report Feasibility Review.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who commissioned the study is now planning to set up a Thames Estuary Steering Group made up of industry, business, and political-types, to oversee further research.

The already much-criticised plans have come under fire from Kent County Council, Medway Council and the RSPB who have teamed up to sink the "undeliverable, unaffordable and unnecessary" airport by launching an online petition.

The 64-page feasibility review by engineer Doug Oakervee was published on Monday (October 19). Mr Oakervee, who oversaw a similar airport in Hong Kong, was commissioned carry out the study last November.

In the report, he writes: "Provided it is located such that aircraft landing and taking off will not cause a nuisance to the residents living in the adjacent coastal towns, an airport in the Thames Estuary could operate on a 24 hour basis and would also present a major challenge to the competing European airports of Amsterdam, Paris and Brussels."

KCC leader Paul Carter attacked the airport as "undeliverable, unaffordable and unnecessary."

He said: "It makes sense to sweat the assets already available to us in the South East. Kent International Airport at Manston, for example, has one of the longest runways in Europe. Manston could, at far less cost, be connected to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link for fast journey times from London to Kent. It could also handle six million passenger movements a year which would boost the local economy in an area of high deprivation. Far more sensible in our view."

Medway Council leader, Cllr Rodney Chambers, called on people to make their voices heard over the "pie in the sky" scheme.

He said: "As far as we are concerned, this is a case of 'here we go again'. Seven years ago, we showed that a similar scheme based off of Cliffe was unworkable. We got that stopped and we shall do the same with this."

RSPB regional director Chris Corrigan said the charity was wholly opposed to the airport because of the immense damage it would cause to the area's wildlife and environment.

Also against the airport was Swale Council leader, Cllr Andrew Bowles, who commented: "The council haven't discussed it recently but we've been on record for not having any enthusiasm for the idea at all. If it goes much further than this we will have to have a proper informed debate. We regard the cost and environmental implications as making it an unlikely runner."

The Thames Estuary Report Feasibility Review can be seen at www.testred.co.uk. KCC, Medway Council and the RSPB's petition can be found at www.stopestuaryairport.co.uk.

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