Airport Consultative Committee [Questions & Responses]

[Galaxy]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

And the ticket office and platform into town are on the WRONG side! D'oh!

A cable car to the airport from Horsforth wouldn't take to long to build, it could even become a visitor attraction in its own right : ) but I guess that kind of blue sky thinking is a bridge too far.

 

[User0001]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

The next meeting is scheduled tomorrow. Looking at the minutes from the last couple of meetings, it has been pretty uninspiring stuff. The airport normally do a business progress report and if they don't cover the following, the questions on my mind would be

1) Is there a confirmed date for work to begin on the terminal. If not, when will details be made available.
2) Do the airport feel more or less confident in terms of attracting new routes and airlines than, say 6 or 12 months ago?

Hopefully it won't be another meeting talking about taxis.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

I hope not!

I will certainly be asking about terminal plans and route opportunities if they don't mention it. The issue of using Horsforth Station as an airport station with mini bus pick ups is also on the agenda, although I was shocked to find today that another committee member is claiming this as something he raised in previous meetings, when actually, it was ME!! (Some may remember I promised to do so at the time and I did at the January 09 meeting, and again at the April 09 meeting).

Anyway, it is back on the agenda for tomorrow but I agree that the information being put out ahead of the meetings is getting less and less revealing. Perhaps with Bridgepoint being a Private company rather than a LA they are keeping their cards closer to their chest than would have been the case, and if that brings rewards in the future then so be it.

 

[Galaxy]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Ask them to consider a Dusseldorf Airport style 'sky train' White Heather please...also any more news on the proposed rail spur?

 

[rhinoscrazy]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

can you also ask them about imroving alot of the road links leading to the airport aswell as they're extreemly cramped when entering the airport through the right hand side (looking down from the terminal)

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Well I attended the meeting today and asked what I could within the time. There are quite a few people there who all want their say, including councillors, so my opportunities are limited. The first 45 minutes of the meeting were spent discussing the make up of the committee, somewhat restricting time for other issues, although the meeting itself was interesting and informative.

1. Terminal development - there is no specific start date but plans continue to be drawn up and it is then a question of finding a suitable period to do the works - still working on the principle that they will be commencing at the end of the summer season.

2. Walkway/shelter for people in the pick up/drop off zone - this is a high priority but not high enough for immediate funding and it makes no sense to do it until the terminal is completed as anything installed now would probably be removed again during the building phase.

3. My previous suggestion (on behalf of many) of a midi bus (as used on the car park shuttles) from Horsforth Railway Station and Guiseley Railway Station has been referred to Metro for feasibility, but there are promising signs. Northern Rail are apparently quite keen on the idea too. I reiterated the benefits of both stations being given dual names (ie Horsforth/Leeds Bradford International Airport and similar for Guiseley) as this would mean the Airport would come up as a destination in the rail booking engines. If this fails I also pointed out the forthcoming development of Woodside Quarry and the proposed new rail stop and park and ride. This could also serve as a pick up point for airport passengers. It is a little further, but any new park and ride would allow the development of a proper bus stop and it would not involve the problem of getting out of Horsfoth Station to turn right up Station Road. Anyone who has tried it at busy times will know what I mean!!

4. The new car park is soon to be completed, bringing the total long stay spaces to 3,500.

5. The only new route confirmed is Sofia by Balkan for winter 2010, but the Directors are attending a global route conference shortly in Canada.

6. Passenger figures from the commencement of the summer season (end of March until the Volcanic Ash Cloud grounded flights), were up 28% on the same period in 2009, mainly courtesy of Ryanair no doubt.

7. There were no discussions on the tram train link other to confirm the overall commitment to it in the future. Such a development is 10 years away from fruition - minimum. This is however seen as the way forward by the airport and Metro

8. The security and screening area of the terminal has been re-configured
to provide more space and will now enable the installation of newer equipment and processes.

9. Jet2 were praised for their efforts in re-patriating their (and other) passengers during the volcanic ash crisis.

9. PIA are to fly to MAN using the 777-300 for a further week as LBA cannot handle this aircraft. However it was confirmed that a switch to the 777 (presumably a 200 series) remains on the cards, but no date has yet been given by PIA. The A310 will be back 2nd week in May.

10. During the volcanic ash closure LBA took the opportunity to completely re-paint the runway markings - work that was programmed to be done at a later date originally.

 

[User0001]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Thanks for the update Heather, interesting stuff.

The planning work does seem to be progressing. The 'travel plan' that the Council require them to implement as part of the planning consent has been agreed by the Council and was uploaded onto the Council website last week.

I would have thought that in reality the airport will have a firm handle on when they want to start work so am a bit surprised they are still be so woolly about committing to a date. Anyway, the official date for granting planning permission was 15th December 2009 - they have to start work 3 years from that date, or the permission lapsses

 

[Aviador]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

If the airport makes no mention again of the development can congestion in the terminal be raised as an issue? Particularly the departure areas and at arrivals during peak periods.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

If I am there, I will raise it, although to be honest, it is raised at every meeting by someone. Airport bosses are only too aware of the issues and overcrowding, but short of reducing the flights and passengers, there is little they can do until the terminal is redeveloped, and clearly that is something that cannot happen in the peak months of the year,

I am not certain I will be attending the next meeting yet as I am recovering from surgery and it is going to take some time. At the moment it is touch and go whether I will be fit to attend the next meeting, although I hope that if I can't Chris will stand in for me and I will of course prompt him on what to ask.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Thanks White Heather and I hope you are recovering well (from nothing serious I hope :shok: )

 

[User0001]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

According to the website, the next meeting is today. Will the airport support group be represented?

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Unfortunately I am still recovering from my operation and was not able to attend the meeting today. I was hoping Chris would go in my place and spoke to him a couple of days ago, priming him with regard to questions that needed asking - in particular regarding the terminal development. However his attendance was also in some doubt as he was unwell with a chest infection on Tuesday. I am waiting to hear from him as to whether he made it or not.

I will of course post any details when the minutes arrive but would beg your patience as I normally am able to put something on here the same day as the meeting.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Just in case you were wondering, Chris did manage to attend the last meeting and on my instructions did ask for an update on the terminal development, as although it was on the agenda, it somehow was missed and no update was given. The only information Chris was given was that nothing has changed and it is the intention to start preliminary ground works this winter season, with final completion by summer 2012.

It was clear that the airport management are only too aware of the problems during peak times and how the new Executive lounge has exacerbated the seating shortage.

I have previously explained the likely delays intaking forward this development and why it is not possible to start sooner:

ie:

Design of drainage and sewage systems, and obtain Environment Agency consent/make changes as required.

(This is not done until planning consent for the building itself is given by Leeds Council , which was delayed until the airport had put forward its proposals for improving transport and road links and had that agreed by the planners - around 6 months ago).

Mechanical & Electrical designs - also not done until approval given for building design and any necessary changes to design are finalised

Tender period for main contractor as set by EEC rules - minimum 1 month

Period for contractor to put forward phasing proposals, discussions, changes and final agreement.

Period for contractor to submit proposals to H&S Planning Supervisor under CDM Regulations and await approval.

Period for moblisation of contractors and ordering of materials/plant hire etc

Commencement and Completion of initial ground works outside peak period (ie winter)

Commence terminal building development.

 

[brtitania020]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

What Date in October will the Consultative Commitee regarding to the Expansion of LBA meeting take place

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

The next Consultative committee meeting is scheduled for the 11th November, not October. It is a standard meeting, not specifically regarding the terminal. Whether or not the terminal is on the agenda I wouldn't know as it hasn't been issued yet. Bridgepoint tend to update us when there is something concrete to report although I do tend to ask for an update if they don't provide one. They do not tend to give much away though as clearly there are discussions going on at board level within the company regarding the timing of the development and since there is often someone there from the press, they would not want inaccurate information going out in the papers. I am sure that when a decision is made, the information will be passed on to us and I will then be able to post that information on here.

 

[User0001]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

What Date in October will the Consultative Commitee regarding to the Expansion of LBA meeting take place

It's the airport's (private) board meeting that is taking place in October (so may have already happened). As Heather says, the Nov 11th consultative meeting may be an opportunity for the airport to then update on what was decided

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Just to let everyone know, the meeting on the 11th November has been postponed and will now take place on 1st December.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Again, just to let everyone know, today's consultative meeting at LBA has been postponed due to the snow and the fact very few of the members had any chance of getting there. It will be re-arranged in the not too distant future.

 

[rhinoscrazy]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Again, just to let everyone know, today's consultative meeting at LBA has been postponed due to the snow and the fact very few of the members had any chance of getting there. It will be re-arranged in the not too distant future.

thats what they said about the terminal extention
merry christmas

 

[White Heather]

Re: Consultative Committee Questions [LBASG]

Merry Christmas to you too Rhinoscrazy, although no definite date has ever been given for the terminal expansion, so you can't claim it has been postponed, because it hasn't.

The next consultative meeting is now scheduled for February.