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Boris fails to rule out north Kent airport
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| The Campaign to Protect Rural England is concerned about air pollution |
MAYOR of London Boris Johnson has not ruled out building a new airport in north Kent despite telling a council leader that Dartford or Gravesham is not an option.
Mr Johnson's office admits the mayor feels a new airport is needed somewhere to the east of London.
But Dartford Council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite says Mr Johnson assured him, in a chat during his election campaign, that an airport in the Thames Gateway was not being considered.
When News Shopper asked his office if he had ruled out an airport in north Kent, a spokesman said: "The mayor is opposed to the expansion of Heathrow because of the impact it would have on local people and the environment.
"In considering the alternative options, the mayor believes we need an open mind, and a willingness to consider a range of ideas.
"A new airport in the east of London is something he is prepared to consider whilst bearing in mind the costs, practicalities and local sensitivities to the people of north Kent and elsewhere."
The suggestion of a new airport in north Kent has been opposed by Councillor Kite and an environmental group.
Councillor Kite said: "I love Boris Johnson to bits but we are not part of London. If Boris thinks an airport in the area would work then he is an idiot.
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| Boris Johnson |
"When I spoke to him during his campaign he assured me north Kent was not an option. Environmentally it doesn't make sense and there is not the infrastructure to support it.
"I would be in favour of the expansion of Heathrow. I have a lot of sympathy for the residents there but the airport has been there a lot longer than many of them.
"They knew what they were getting in to when they moved."
Hilary Newport, the Kent director of charity the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "It is something which we would be concerned about.
"It's better to make use of the air resources which we currently have. An airport, in addition to the industrial works on the river and the car pollution from Dartford Bridge, is certainly not going to help air quality."
11:06am Friday 6th June 2008
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CommentPosted by: Kent traveller, kent on 3:38pm Fri 6 Jun 08
An airport for Kent, Brill. Build it around Dartford. Knock all the cheap houses down and flatten Dartford, then all the chavs will move away and Kent can BECOME THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND again. Dartford needs cleaning of chavs. Otherwise can i recommend Gravesend, another dodgy part of Kent, any suggestions?
An airport for Kent, Brill. Build it around Dartford. Knock all the cheap houses down and flatten Dartford, then all the chavs will move away and Kent can BECOME THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND again. Dartford needs cleaning of chavs. Otherwise can i recommend Gravesend, another dodgy part of Kent, any suggestions?
Posted by: Steve Doerr, Northfleet on 4:38pm Fri 6 Jun 08
It's not really a problem: BAA (or whoever builds it) just needs to pay everyone affected adequate compensation. If they pay me enough, I'm happy to put up with living near an airport.
It's not really a problem: BAA (or whoever builds it) just needs to pay everyone affected adequate compensation. If they pay me enough, I'm happy to put up with living near an airport.
Posted by: Alex, London on 11:25pm Fri 6 Jun 08
There's so much opposition to expansion at Heathrow that I feel this airport will never get its third runway. Because London is so decentralised it's far better, I believe, to seek to build another airport (which would take the pressure of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) in a new zone to the East of our capital.
It could be connected to Central London by a high-speed rail link although new road links would also have to be constructed.
There's so much opposition to expansion at Heathrow that I feel this airport will never get its third runway. Because London is so decentralised it's far better, I believe, to seek to build another airport (which would take the pressure of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted) in a new zone to the East of our capital.
It could be connected to Central London by a high-speed rail link although new road links would also have to be constructed.
Posted by: what ever, cheap houses on 11:35pm Fri 6 Jun 08
i beleive it when i see it, they tried making mardten a domestic airport but that went belly up, wakey wakey
i beleive it when i see it, they tried making mardten a domestic airport but that went belly up, wakey wakey
Posted by: NC, Dartford on 10:55pm Sat 7 Jun 08
Sorry why does Boris Johnson have any say over what goes in Kent when he is Mayor of London elected by those in the London area, not by those in Kent.
Sorry why does Boris Johnson have any say over what goes in Kent when he is Mayor of London elected by those in the London area, not by those in Kent.
Posted by: c may, bromley on 11:49pm Sat 7 Jun 08
we dont need airport expansion anywhere in b isles what is this obsesion with jumping on planes time to say enough is enough personaly ive no need to travel abroad again ive all i need here in b isles
we dont need airport expansion anywhere in b isles what is this obsesion with jumping on planes time to say enough is enough personaly ive no need to travel abroad again ive all i need here in b isles
Posted by: Nick, Canterbury on 5:16pm Sat 12 Jul 08
C May, that is perhaps the most rediculous arguement against a new airport i think i have ever heard! I even disagree with the location theats being surgested, and would ratehr see Manston improved.
But to say whats the point of traveling abroad is just the most backwards 19th Century logic. Your sheer arrogrance of the world around you and the fat that there are other cultures to explore and experiance . At a time when the world is coming closer together what you say is just a joke. even reading it makes me so angry at some of the peole I share this small lump of land with that i cant think streight
C May, that is perhaps the most rediculous arguement against a new airport i think i have ever heard! I even disagree with the location theats being surgested, and would ratehr see Manston improved.
But to say whats the point of traveling abroad is just the most backwards 19th Century logic. Your sheer arrogrance of the world around you and the fat that there are other cultures to explore and experiance . At a time when the world is coming closer together what you say is just a joke. even reading it makes me so angry at some of the peole I share this small lump of land with that i cant think streight
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