Future Infrastructure Developments

[a300boy]

Just noted its reported our local MP Alex Sobel has said he will no support Airport expansion but does not want locals to fly from Manchester. Might be fake news but not good news if true.

 

[LBA8098]

Don't see a Labour MPs comments as particularly significant to be honest. We need to establish a LBA expansion support petition.

 

[White Heather]

Alex Sobel was on radio a few weeks ago (Radio Leeds) and said he wants to see less flights from LBA and no expansion. Fortunately, it isn't really up to him. Allowing expansion is a matter for Leeds City Council and (for the current proposals) they have already approved it and LBA have started the work. As I understand it, the Council cannot now withdraw consent again even if they wished to do so.

However, the worst case scenario for any future application (that differs from what they have approval for) is that the council say no this time due to pressure from those who shall not be named, or the Environment Minister in Central Government gets involved and calls it in for a Public Inquiry - something they are reluctant to do now unless essential. When Labour folk came door knocking prior to the election I took them to task over Alex Sobel's comments and that this actually translated into putting people who work at the airport out of a job - and denying many other people the opportunities to get a job. It will also put Leeds and the entire region at a distinct disadvantage, and he is supposed to be supporting this city, not hindering it. It is another sad case of an MP believing what he hears with regard to aviation being the bad boy when it comes to global warming and pandering to the locals who he thinks will support him if he objects. It is a step back to the bad days in the 70s and 80s.

I agree that once the airport has made clear what they are intending, there is very much a need for a counter petition for people to add support for their proposals and to counter the objectors and this needs to be submitted in due course to Leeds Planning Department. Ultimately, whether the airport development enables future expansion or not, we all know that the existing terminal falls well short of what is needed even to maintain the status quo, and for that reason alone, the airport should be allowed to get on with it. Leeds needs a better airport and the biggest part of that, is a decent terminal experience for passengers.

 

[LBA8098]

I personally have contacted LCC this afternoon via their website to convey the huge level of support for LBA expansion. Those who object are keen to make their opinions known. We, as supporters, should ensure our passion and support is communicated to the decision makers

 

[Heathrowflyer]

Alex Sobel's core and high volume of constituents are essentially the student population. Therefore his views with be reflective of this.

 

[a300boy]

We must make it clear to him that he is not representing the core voters in the area on this matter.

 

[White Heather]

Alex Sobel's core and high volume of constituents are essentially the student population. Therefore his views with be reflective of this.

Today, BBC Radio Leeds, on the 1030 news, mentioned that 'a new report' claims that if LBA expands, Leeds will miss its CO2 neutral target. They didn't bother to say who wrote this report or how credible it is, but to my knowledge it isn't new. There was something like this recently which originated from Leeds University, where there is some Professor who seems to have made stopping LBA expansion his chief aim in life. Perhaps he lives on the flight path!

As for the University and its students, it seriously annoys me that these people who mainly do not originate from these parts, and generally don't stay in these parts either long term, move here to study in our city and then start pontificating about the airport. Our airport! It isn't as though LBA is the main culprit when it comes to CO2 emissions. Far from it. And they are driving down CO2 emissions year on year, and will continue to do so as aircraft technology improves. Crikey, at this time of year the CO2 from LBA must be minimal. There are hardly any flights!!! It is just seen as an easy target for some reason - almost as though being able to get around the world is now seen as something we shouldn't do, or feel ashamed if we do.

The alternative to aviation for world travel is shipping, which generates far greater levels of CO2. Perhaps we all need to go back to Horse and Carts and if we must travel, go by sailing ship again! Some realism is needed. They way to drastically slow down global warming is to stop countries who seem to disregard the situation from continuing to emit huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, thereby completely undoing what other countries,, including the UK, are doing to reduce their own emissions. Sadly these are the very countries with the greatest populations. Then there are those that think it is OK to chop down and burn the worlds largest forested areas - forest that actually converts all that nasty CO2 back into good old Oxygen again.

I truly hope that Leeds Council are not influenced by these people. There are many things they could do to improve the CO2 situation in Leeds without stopping LBA in its tracks just as some much needed investment seems likely. If they do so they will be surrendering the future of this great city and all the other great cities and towns around us and handing the whole lot on a plate to our Red Rose airport over the hill. I must be becoming cynical in my old age though as I cannot help thinking that all of this is just a smokescreen to stop airport development, stop the new road and stop the new train station. Global warming has given these people the perfect cover for their anti airport NIMBY activities.

 

[paully]

The old saying was you can`t educate pork...Sadly that is what Universities seem to be stuffed with these days..

 

[LBA4EVER]

Ok this is only an idea.

But maybe as a group we should all come together and write a letter (Signed by all) to Leeds City Council and to the Labour MP in question Alex Sobel showing our support for the future growth of Leeds/Bradford Airport.

Its time that something was done inc yes a letter to alex sobel which includes bullet point reasons LBA should be aloud to grow.

 

[LBA8098]

Great idea LBA spotter!

 

[Finger66]

So is someone willing to take the lead on this? If so you have my 100% support

 

[Heathrowflyer]

Alex Sobel became an MP due to the Lib Dem policy re. Student loans and Greg Mulholland lost his seat on the back of this. The student vote basically ensured this happened.
In terms of the University one of the main issues to address, in my opinion, is the number of cars and specifically, the large number of students who have cars in Leeds and staff who park around the Uni. All this surely cant be carbon neutral.

 

[Finger66]

Alex Sobel became an MP due to the Lib Dem policy re. Student loans and Greg Mulholland lost his seat on the back of this. The student vote basically ensured this happened.
In terms of the University one of the main issues to address, in my opinion, is the number of cars and specifically, the large number of students who have cars in Leeds and staff who park around the Uni. All this surely cant be carbon neutral.

Agreed but you try convincing them that they are a major part of the problem? They will probably laugh and say nowhere near as bad as aeroplanes. This is deliberately the wrong way round "grandeur of delusions"

 

[Aviador]

I would support, in essence Forums4airports.com would support that idea. If somebody would like to take ownership of it.

It needs a comprehensive structure detailing fully the reasons why we as a group support airport expansion. Why it's better to support its growth whilst changing and adapting with the industry as a whole including the environmental benefits of not using neighbouring airports.

@White Heather maybe the best person to do this, at least the structure of the literature.

 

[David_itl]

Here's a funny but random thing to interject. I used to collaborate with Alex Sobel's parents once upon a time when I worked for my aunt in a translation bureau (they are Russian and Polish) so if you bribe me enough, maybe I could give a shout out to him via his parents that the major emissions problem for conurbations simply isn't air travel. Heathrow's problems regarding R3 getting approved isn't mostly concerned about aircraft. It's emissions caused by cars that may not necessarily be using LHR going on motorways/urban roads near the airport.

For LBA, I would ask him which he thinks it's good for the environment when going to relatively nearby destination such as Brussels or Frankfurt on business: (1) a passenger with no overwhelming desire to use MAN who takes a flight to AMS or LHR then onwards to their destination, (2) get over to MAN by car as rail is problematic and fly from there (3) spend a day driving and taking the ferry/Eurostar or (4) spend a day hoping all connections work and rail it all the way knowing that not all of the UK's railiways are electric. If he objects, someone needs to remind him that, deal or no deal, Europe will still be our major trading partner.

 

[louis_walton]

This sounds like a great idea that I would 100% support.

 

[LBA787]

What a great discussion! Now this is why I love forum4airports.

I fully support any necessary action. Let’s remind these incompetent people of the facts.

 

[Len Fish]

These people just aren’t realists. It’s fine for Greta to sail round the world on a yacht but in the real world aviation is a necessity. By all means make it cleaner but recognise that it’s a vital component of a modern World.

 

[White Heather]

Just a word of warning. A letter to an MP from this group won't hold much sway unless it includes the names and addresses of all people being represented by it. It will be viewed as a single letter otherwise. I would also suggest that it may be prudent to wait until the airport announces whatever it is going to announce and then whatever letter we want to send to the MP could also be adapted and sent to the Council to express full support for the airport. For me, that is even more important as it is the Council (not the MP) who will make the decision. It will be interesting to see how this pans out given that the Council have (recently) been supportive of the airport (and they are a Labour Council) whilst the MP has stated he opposes growth (and he is a Labour MP!). The two appear to be heading for conflict.

 

[a300boy]

I have had one meeting with him to date so as WH suggests lets see what the special meeting tells us and then do the letter and I will ask to see him again.