Leeds Bradford: Infrastructure & Construction Updates

[White Heather]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

I agree and I am sure that the directors at LBA know that too. I am going to the consultative meeting tomorrow and there is an update on the terminal development on the agenda, so hopefully there might be some news. I just hope it is good if there is.

 

[Seasider]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

As I have posted before, I have never had a problem with an overcrowded/shabby departure lounge. If you are going to travel at peak times, then it is going to be crowded like any pub/shop/railway station etc. If they provide facilities for everyone to have a choice of seats at peak times, the place is going to look empty the majority of other times and then people will complain that the money could have been better spent else where.
It is planned to use the airport at the begining of April and in September, I will have a good look round at the facilities and see if my views have changed

 

[User0001]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

(LBIA -Bridgepoint are not putting any of their own money into the development of LBA, this is what frustrates me. They are reinvesting £70m from the business activities at LBA,)

This is exactly what I said at the time LBA was sold and I was attacked for thinking such a thing.
70m to be invested over 10 years means only puttting some of the profits back in and does not provide for any one off big spends..

According the accounts filed at companies house, the airport generated about £8m in net cash inflow between spring 2007 and spring 2010. In that time £20m has been spent on infrastructure and sorting out the pension shortfall they inherited from the council. Not all of the £20m has been on shinny new things because, to give one example, they also inherited a drainage issue where deicing fluid was draining off in the local streams and becks around the airport. That cost the best part of £5m of they were facing legal action from DEFRA

As of last March, the airport had £31m in loans in place provided directly by or supported by Bridgepoint. £19m of this has no fixed repayment schedule and carries an interest rate of 0.5% above Bridgepoint's cost of borrowing. Anybody think that they would have been able to raise this finance at these rates on these terms had they gone to the banks?

 

[wawkrk]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

(Anybody think that they would have been able to raise this finance at these rates on these terms had they gone to the banks?)

In that case as I have frequently said, the wrong company bought the airport.

 

[User0001]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

It should be re-named Leeds Bradford International Parking Lot! Thats what all the money has gone into in the last 2 years. More car parking spaces. When they should be pushing for better bus & rail connections and stopping more people from coming in the car! Better for our roads and better for the environment!

They money they get from airlines doesn't cover the cost of running and maintaining the airport. Airlines are a loss leader that provide passengers that spend money in car parks, lounges and shopping which (hopefully) more than covers the losses incurred by allowing the aircraft to land and take off. That's regional airports I'm afraid, like it or lump it.

 

[User0001]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

(Anybody think that they would have been able to raise this finance at these rates on these terms had they gone to the banks?)

In that case as I have frequently said, the wrong company bought the airport.

Sorry, I don't understand. I reach quite the opposite conclusion.

 

[a300boy]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

LS16 The drainage scheme was an urgent priority as the lack of it had allegedly killed lots of fish in Yeadon Dam and affected other wildlife around the area. The airport in my opinion did a great job in fixing the problem without too much fuss or adverse publicity.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

It may be the case that Bridgepoint paid too much for LBA as wawkrk suggests, but I guess that is what happens when you go out to tender and a bidding war occurs. That is not the fault of Leeds City Council though. Firstly the airport was owned by Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees (not just Leeds), and secondly the councils cannot really be criticised for selling at the maximum price. In fact, it is exactly what they should have done. What is up for debate is whether they should have sold in the first place. Under council control there was very little investment, but what there was seemed to keep the terminal in decent condition, unlike now. The rapid deterioration is undoubtedly due to the fact that (at peak times) there are too many people crowded into too small an area. I have not been able to fly for 3 years now due to my daughters illness, but last time I did, I experienced both sides of LBA whilst waiting for a delayed flight - packed out for 2 hours and rattling around in an empty departure lounge the next 2 hours. Even then the seating was deteriorating and in places very poor and I noticed how much worse it had become since my previous visit. That was before Ryanair came along with their base, so the situation must be worse now.

As I said, I will be asking about this today at the airport meeting - it will be interesting to see what they have to say. I will let everyone know!

 

[Aviador]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Any news?

 

[White Heather]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Yes and No!

At yesterday's meeting we were advised that there had been a judicial review period with regard to the terminal development, which ended on 31 March 2010, so until that time was over, no further progress would be made on the scheme. Beyond that, there are a number if 'Section 106' issues that LBA are having to work through and sign up to before commencing terminal development. We were advised that there were quite a lot of these, and most relate to public transport, staff travel to work and various other environmental related issues. Only when all of these have been adequately dealt with by LBA and fully signed off will the airport development be able to start. At this time, they have still not been fully completed or signed off and it sounded as though these were all 'conditions' that had to be satisfied before the terminal could be built. They include the Harrogate bus link, which of course was going to be pulled, but as previously reported on here, that has been saved with a Centrebus link between Harrogate and Bradford, operating hourly, via LBA.

I specifically asked what the timescales were for the terminal starting bearing in mind the increasing passenger numbers, terminal maintenance issues and overcrowding in the terminal. No definite dates have been set, but we were advised that they should be in a position to start 'quite soon'.

In the meantime, LBA are working (presumably with the project architect) on the phasing of the scheme, examining ways of doing the work whilst minimising the impact on the running of the airport. This is a piece of work I mentioned in previous posts that is absolutely essential and can take some time. However, you would not do this if there was no intention to proceed. Architects do not come cheap!!

There was no indication at all that the project is not going to happen and an acceptance that it needs to be done soon.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Thank you White Heather for your most informative update. All in all it sounds promising and indicates that progress is being made.

 

[a300boy]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Just had an Email from Multiflight stating that new lighting on taxiway L will be installed in May 2011 which when finished will mean the 400m Rvr restiction of movements on the south side will be removed.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Just had an Email from Multiflight stating that new lighting on taxiway L will be installed in May 2011 which when finished will mean the 400m Rvr restiction of movements on the south side will be removed.

I assume this means the introduction of green centreline lights does it?

On another note, survey work has recently been conducted on the main apron supposedly it's something to do with moving the apron road?

 

[a300boy]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Multiflight were not specific as to the lighting improvements but it would seem they are at least part funding the upgrade.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Infrastructure Developments

Also worth mentioning is the preparation work to extend the Jet2 offices has commenced. An extension to the temporary building is being made to the East side of the present structure.

 

[Aviador]

Hewlett Construction is to commence work on a new surface water filtration system which is to be built in the Short Stay 2 car park. The system will compliment the current filter system already in place there. The work will improve the quality of water that enters the local watercourse.

 

[tleeds]

Aviador, or anyone who knows, is there still no word on when the extention to the terminal will be built? Seems a long while now, since we've heard anything.

 

[Aviador]

Nothing at all I'm afraid as far as I am aware, but as per White Heather's last notes on the matter, the LBA management have hinted that the work is not too far off starting. Most people seem to think it wont (and probably can't) start until the autumn now. The summer is just too busy and starting the work any sooner would create too many problems.

 

[tleeds]

okay, thanks for the update - lets hope it starts this autumn.

 

[jason1-11]

The terminal is only part of the jigsaw. Any ideas if any of the other mentioned projects in the masterplan will come to fruition in the next couple of years?