Category Archives: Aviation
Is Stansted’s ancient woodland safe from Manchester Airports Group?
BAA’s airport monopoly was broken up even further last week with the announcement of a winning bid of £1.5billion for Stansted Airport. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is the new owner. After the fight of the decade, will this be good news or … Continue reading
Planning under attack
Budget week is always an exciting time as the public, politicians and media commentators speculate about, and reflect upon, a raft of announcements. Yesterday the Chancellor George Osborne offered a further attack on the planning system, highlighting its alleged role … Continue reading
The fight of the decade
The threat is finally over and Stansted’s second runway is OFF the table! Hard to believe it’s been ten years since we first identified a threat to almost 20 hectares of irreplaceable woodland habitat in the heart of the Essex countryside. … Continue reading
Could this be the end for Stansted?
The end of the threat to ancient woodland, that is! The Coalition Government has published its programme for governing. It includes, along with many other pledges, this: ‘We will refuse permission for additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted.’ Could this … Continue reading
Airport expansion? Chaos!
** Updated ** March 2010 BAA says it is ‘fully committed’ to pushing 2nd runway plans forward – threatening to bring a possible 3 additional years to this already 8 year period of uncertainty. Read BAA’s reply to the Secretary of State’s letter. ============= … Continue reading
‘Bias’ enables BAA to win appeal against Stansted’s sale
We hear this week that airport operator BAA’s appeal to the Competition Commission against their decision that the operator must sell off some of their airports has been upheld. Concerns about the ‘apparent bias’ of one member of the panel … Continue reading
An obvious truth for aviation expansion?
The research commissioned from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is the latest in a long line of changing goalposts when it comes to the subject of airport expansion. The Committee, chaired by Lord Adair Turner, was asked to advise … Continue reading
Airplot! The orchard years…
Last week I planted my very first tree. Some people assume that we spend all our time at the Woodland Trust tree planting and walking around beautiful woodlands, but unluckily for the Campaigning team we don’t get out as often … Continue reading
Good home for Gatwick?
So, BAA’s monopoly is finally ending. We have met the news that Gatwick is to be bought by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) with mixed views. From a personal point of view the breaking up of such a monopoly can only be … Continue reading
BAA must sell Stansted – why do you need a new runway then?
The Competition Commission’s report into BAA’s ownership of multiple airports has concluded that BAA must sell Stansted, Gatwick and one of Edinburgh or Glasgow airports. They have two years to sell off Stansted and interestingly the Commission has not insisted any … Continue reading
