From: ISON, Eric WR
Sent: 24 October 2011 19:14
To: Planning LDF
Subject: Filton Airfield
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am writing to inform you that no I don’t think the closure of Filton Airfield is the only realistic option - how can it be?
In fact I think closing the Airfield is the most unrealistic option. Actually I will re-phrase that, turning the Airfield into a housing estate is the most unrealistic option. If the land could be earmarked as an area where residential planning would never ever be granted I am firmly of the belief BAE Systems might be able to find suitable alternatives that could maintain the use of the runway to satisfy their shareholders.
Or at least find solutions that keep the runway it in it's current state so that in future it could be resurrected for aircraft use, when viable opportunities arise, if they really don’t exist now.
Many people have stated the obvious that when the runway is gone, it is gone. Forever.
I realise that planning was already sought on the site to become BristolAirport, and that huge public disapproval killed that. However perhaps the disapproval was due to the number of suggested aircraft movements, and the noisy planes that would be using the runway.
My suggestion is BristolAirport #2. Simply a long haul hub serving key destinations - keep all the frequent short haul out of Lulsgate.
Lulsgate can't take the size of plane sensibly required to travel long haul, but Filton can. This also reduces the need for a runway extension at Lulsgate. Bristol has a huge catchment area of the Southwest and Wales. London is already overcrowded and this will only get worse.
Look to the future - what a perfect location. Also a great way to bring people to the city. Perhaps not now, but in the not too distant future. Planes the likes of Airbus A380 already, and the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 following shortly really are very quiet. The locals who complained last time may well have a different view faced with the prospect of fewer flights, from much quieter aircraft, offering them opportunities to see the world from their doorstep.
I have no facts to back this up of course, but I do know closing the airfield and turning the runway into anything other than a runway puts an end to a huge amount of potential ideas and possibilities.
Also on a personal note, despite promises to the contrary, in the long-term I really do fear for the future of my job if the runway closes. Airbus is centralising towards Toulouse, and without a runway we would be losing opportunities for many future investments from the company.
Travel to from our European colleagues is currently very easy using the runway, if it's gone I think it's inevitable the desire to place work in Filton with it's poor accessibility will dry up.
Regards,
Eric.
Eric ISON
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