Business

Heathrow decision delays could hit town businesses

October 11, 2012

Delays over discussions on the expansion of Heathrow airport could jeopardise the future of businesses in Wokingham, the borough council has warned.

Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) announced on Monday that the majority of its stakeholders, including Wokingham Borough Council, fully endorse any decision that re-opens the opportunity for Heathrow to increase its capacity.

The borough council feels inaction will frustrate economic growth in the region, which is currently one of the three top performing economies in the UK.

Councillor Rob Stanton, the council representative in the partnership, said: “Action has been pushed back until after the next election. It seems uncertain and that’s what concerns us.

“The danger is about inward investment – when companies from other parts of the world choose where they want to go. If there’s no certainty about airport capacity in the South East they may choose to go elsewhere.”

Secret plan for £60 billion airport on edge of borough

Last month secret plans were revealed that a British business consortium were assessing land on the edge of the borough between Reading, Maidenhead and Bracknell for a possible £60bn four-runway airport.

Cllr Stanton firmly dismisses these plans.

“I think it’s bonkers,” he said. “It’s not the right place – it’s too built up.

“It would achieve nothing they can’t do at Heathrow. A new airport could go in the Thames Estuary or in middle England.”

In its announcement on Monday, the LEP stated 75 per cent of businesses in the region cite proximity to Heathrow as a primary reason for their location.

The partnership urged for new opportunities to be created for growth and warned market share could be lost to Germany where expansion is on track in Frankfurt, where already more destinations are served than Heathrow.

Cllr Stanton added: “We need to be clear that the council is not, at this stage, calling outright for such an expansion; what we are asking is that expansion be reconsidered in the light of the importance of Heathrow to the Thames Valley’s economy – and the importance of the Thames Valley’s economy to the country in general.”

Council leader Cllr David Lee said: “There are many compelling reasons for businesses to locate in Wokingham borough: from our great schools to our good transport connections to London and our highly educated population.

“But we are never complacent and it is right we should raise our voice if issues beyond our boundaries are likely to affect us.

“We will ensure our concerns are heard.”

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Most recent user comments 10 of 10

Local Woky, they're quoting councillors who are warning that delays could hurt Wokingham. So they've used the title 'delays could hurt Wokingham'. It's hardly propaganda, is it?

The fact that the councillors had very little to say, and no real substance - that's more important. I'd consider that when voting next.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
15/10/2012 at 09:30

"Delays over discussions on the expansion of Heathrow airport could jeopardise the future of businesses in Wokingham, the borough council has warned"

If this was on wikipedia it would require citation to be classed as fact. What facts or work has been done to prove this statement?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation

Can you add a button the the news storied which states "Requires Citation" please?

The story also reads like a party political broadcast so that Cllrs can be seen to doing something or taking an interest. When in fact all they are doing is commenting with an opinion in the paper.

Local Woky, Wokingham
13/10/2012 at 08:24

“We will ensure our concerns are heard.”

how about "We will ensure that our residents concerns are heard"?

Paul Daniels' reattached finger.
12/10/2012 at 14:32

This sounds like good news to me. If there is a reductioni in employment in the Wokingham area there will be less need to destroy the green fields in and around the town by building even more houses on them.

We should welcome any moves that reduce the pressure for more new houses, expanding our schools etc.

PoneRana, Wokingham
12/10/2012 at 12:38

And politicans wonder why we don't trust them, Hats.

(Or do they already know why we hate them? Do they care? They do what they like anyway!)

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
12/10/2012 at 11:52

When did they undertake this survey of every single business in the region?

What region did they consider?

How was the question framed?

I think this is load of b*** ***t, to be honest.

HatsOfDoom
12/10/2012 at 11:36

Despite the claims that Heathrow is full, passenger numbers are continuing to grow and will do so in the medium term. This growth is made possible by the re-building of Heathrow into a modern style "toast rack" airport with all the terminals and aircraft stands located between and at right angles to the main runways.

Phase 1 of the T2 redevelopment is not expected to open until spring 2014, whilst Phase 2 until late 2019. In addition to which BAA have already announced there will then follow the expansion of T5A with two new satellites T5D and T5E.

There then remains a likely move of T4 from its present location to the South of the main runway, to a new location between the main runways at the under-developed eastern end of the airport.

At present the massive A380 only makes up about 8 daily flights to / from Heathrow, but BAA announced some years ago that by 2020 this would increase to 10% of the total i.e. about 131 per day; later it is expected to make up more than 20%. In a single class configuration, the A380-800 aircraft is certified to carry 853 passengers, but a larger -900 varient is expected to carry more than 900 passengers.

In the short and medium term Heathrow can accommodate a considerable increase in passenger numbers; at present these total about 70mppa but with the improvements listed above this could reach 125+mppa.

Windsorian
12/10/2012 at 10:52

“We need to be clear that the council is not, at this stage, calling outright for such an expansion; what we are asking is that expansion be reconsidered..."

Wha? Yes or No. Pro-Expansion or not? If you're telling me that the policy of the your party is to increase capacity at Heathrow by adding a third runway, that's not going to win my vote.

Boris for PM.

Woky Local
12/10/2012 at 10:51

I don't think we need any more noise & pollution from planes in Wokingham !! It's bad enough as it is !!!!

Tom B
12/10/2012 at 10:41

"In its announcement on Monday, the LEP stated 75 per cent of businesses in the region cite proximity to Heathrow as a primary reason for their location." - ah come on, seriously? 75% of businesses in our region?? Well, you can exclude all the supermarkets from that... and all local shops... almost all small businesses... that's just nonsense.