LUTON

[Powerjet1]

Looks like the East Luton Corridor road scheme into the airport is included in a £40m package for Luton announced by the Housing Minister today. Also, £13m makeover of the town's main railway station. Certainly not before time.

[LTNman]

Originally Posted by Powerjet1

Looks like the East Luton Corridor road scheme into the airport is included in a £40m package for Luton announced by the Housing Minister today. Also, £13m makeover of the town's main railway station. Certainly not before time.

Page two and page nine of http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/702/Fulll..._id1163702.doc mentions funding for the project. Years late but at least it is going to really happen

[Powerjet1]

Good news indeed and about time.

Will the new road cut through a sizeable chunk of the current mid-term carpark once construction starts?.

With M1 widening taking place at the same time as the new dual carriageway down from jct 10 into the airport, traffic 'hell' will be the order of the day for pax & staff arriving from that direction. For two years!!!!

[LTNman]

Originally Posted by Powerjet1

Good news indeed and about time.
Will the new road cut through a sizeable chunk of the current mid-term carpark once construction starts?.
With M1 widening taking place at the same time as the new dual carriageway down from jct 10 into the airport, traffic 'hell' will be the order of the day for pax & staff arriving from that direction. For two years!!!!

The original plans, which the airport objected to, was the loss of 1200 car parking spaces. The airport withdrew its objection when the size of the new proposed roundabout was reduced in size thus claiming back a few precious spaces. The original proposed roundabout was on the same scale as the roundabout at Junction 10A. From there the new dual carriageway cuts across the corner of the car park isolating part of it.

This new road is only the start of a project that might take 20 years to complete. One day a new road will feed off this new roundabout and run under taxiway Alpha emerging at the airports boundary on the far side of taxiway Delta. From there it will run across open countryside and join back up with the A505 at a half way point between Luton and Hitchin.

This new road will open up land for access to the new proposed Century Park business park and provide an access route for new housing at Wigmore.

The midterm car park will be further squeezed when a full length taxiway is run to 08.

The road works which start on the M1 at Hemel Hempstead and end inside the airport boundary will give the impression to passengers arriving by road from the south that Luton Airport is getting a major 10 mile access upgrade.

[LTNman]

Goodbye Alpha

City Net Catering is moving into building 106 at the airport after LSG Sky Chefs won a nationwide catering contract with Thomsonfly. City Net Catering is part owned by LSG Sky Chefs. The company has bases at London City, Birmingham, Southampton and Edinburgh

[Buster the Bear]

M1 roadworks between the M25 and Jct10 (Luton airport) commence on March 19th. 40mph limit on this section, major bridge replacement and carriageway widening. Works to take 3 years. GULP! The Highways Agency start the widening north of the Luton airport junction after completion of the southern stage with a time scale of 3-4 years. DOUBLE GULP!

The Highways Agency will maintain 3 lanes with the use of the hard shoulder and contra flow, if the work recently completed on the M25 and Terminal 5 is anything to go by, the traffic delays will be on the approach to the 40mph speed limit, once within the road works area, traffic tends to flows freely.

I see Ryanair are still canceling flights, any idea why?

[King Pong]

Originally Posted by LTNman

Doubt you would fit 5-10 desks in that space as there is also a staff staircase in that area. Might get 4 desks in at a pinch.

I was in the terminal last night and it clear to see by counting the panels over the check-in desks that run to the wall that just 3 additional desks could be fitted in the space to the left of the Ryanair check-in desks.

M1 roadworks between the M25 and Jct10 (Luton airport) commence on March 19th. 40mph limit on this section, major bridge replacement and carriageway widening. Works to take 3 years.

I read in the paper a while back that intelligent speed cameras working in pairs will measure average speed over a few miles to see which car drivers speed up above the temporary limits when they think there are no cameras around.

I see Ryanair are still canceling flights, any idea why?

It must be a lack of crews with enough spare hours. Why else would Ryanair have an aircraft locked up on a Friday during a half term holiday.

[CAP493]

M1 roadworks between the M25 and Jct10 (Luton airport) commence on March 19th. 40mph limit on this section, major bridge replacement and carriageway widening. Works to take 3 years. GULP! The Highways Agency start the widening north of the Luton airport junction after completion of the southern stage with a time scale of 3-4 years. DOUBLE GULP!

This might actually be beneficial to traffic flow because by reducing the max speed it could just prevent the daily shunts caused by idiot drivers 'tailgating' at speeds in excess of 60 to 70 mph. Thus, the traffic might actually flow more easily.

This new road will open up land for access to the new proposed Century Park business park and provide an access route for new housing at Wigmore.

Century Park is possibly off the agenda depending on whether or not LBC manages to convince LLAO/ACDL to abandon its plans for Stansted Mk II in Hertfordshire and instead, develop the land on the north side of the existing runway (including the former council 'tip') and a 500-metre runway extension. LBC would be prepared to abandon the Century Park proposals if LLAO/ACDL agreed to its alternative plan. Unfortunately, LBC's concept for a major airport still has a whiff of the 1970s 'kipper tie' thinking that its officials demonstrated right up to the late 1990s when they finally stopped pretending they knew how to operate an airport, and let the Concession.

Also, £13m makeover of the town's main railway station. Certainly not before time.

A complete waste of money unless Thameslink (or whoever operates the station) bans a sizeable proportion of the local Lutonite riff-raff from its station premises. Whilst it's true the place needs re-decorating, it also suffers from the 'public urinal, puking, spitting & graffitti brigade' the effects of which, a multi-million pound make-over isn't going to address.

. . . . . . . . . .

One cannot help wondering if all this frenetic activity in the 'local' area (roads and railway upgrading plus being unusually receptive to LLAO's/ACDL's development plans)) hasn't got something to do with a probable general election in 2007 i.e. trying to convince the local New Labour supporters that the Government hasn't forgotten just who got it into power in 1997, and who helped it stay there afterwards...

[LTNman]

Originally Posted by CAP493

Century Park is possibly off the agenda depending on whether or not LBC manages to convince LLAO/ACDL to abandon its plans for Stansted Mk II in Hertfordshire and instead, develop the land on the north side of the existing runway (including the former council 'tip') and a 500-metre runway extension. LBC would be prepared to abandon the Century Park proposals if LLAO/ACDL agreed to its alternative plan. Unfortunately, LBC's concept for a major airport still has a whiff of the 1970s 'kipper tie' thinking that its officials demonstrated right up to the late 1990s when they finally stopped pretending they knew how to operate an airport, and let the Concession.

The land at Century Park is privately owned with outline planning permission granted for industrial development. I can't see how the council can do any deals involving this land. The problem for the developer is that many years ago a planning application for road access to the site from the edge of Wigmore Park/ Eaton Green Road was turned down with the council stating that access must be from the airport. That has to be around 12 years ago and since then nothing has happened.

The land at Century Park would be unsuitable for airside use as all of the land that adjoins the airport boundary is on a hillside. We are not talking about a few feet here we are talking about looking down on to the tops of mature trees from the airports runway.

With the airport only really pushing option D the locals at Wigmore haven’t figured out that their park will end up as part of the airport if options A, B or C is adopted. The park was meant to be a noise buffer zone between the airport and local housing. I am sure there will be a great deal of resentment from the locals if they find their homes only yards away from aprons and taxiways because this was the councils preferred option.

[Buster the Bear]

The Highways Agency are bound to use the new 'average speed' measuring cameras, these are to be used on the M11 shortly in the vicinity of Stansted for re-surfacing works.

Traffic flows though the new area of works are likely to be unaffected, however, there will be delays on the approach to the works as occured daily close to Heathrow.

[CAP493]

The land at Century Park is privately owned with outline planning permission granted for industrial development.

True, but access to & from the proposed site is supposed to be via a tunnel running under the Airport from approximately the Ibis Hotel roundabout.

Such access will require planning permission.

The Planning Authority might subsequently consider that it's not now appropriate if LLAO/ACDL decided to expand the existing Airport site.

The area then becomes more attractive for 'other' development.

As to the adverse topography, well the landfill and civil works required pale into insignificance when compared to the preparatory work necessary to extend the runway eastwards and to construct a parallel taxiway to the runway's 'new' threshold.

The area wouldn't necessarily be used for aprons, taxiways, etc. Multi-story car parks, wharehouses and office accommodation thereby releasing existing areas, come to mind.

Make no mistake - LBC is shi***ng itself at the prospect of losing either in part or in total, its 'golden egg' - which means that LLAO/ACDL has a Royal Flush in its hand...

[LTNman]

As to the adverse topography, well the landfill and civil works required pale into insignificance when compared to the preparatory work necessary to extend the runway eastwards and to construct a parallel taxiway to the runway's 'new' threshold.

Which are all reasons why building a new runway on the flatlands to the south of the airport are more appealing than spending a year building up the land at the 26 end before they can even start to build a runway extension.

The following is what the airport says about extending the existing runway in their 2030 document


Option A has been ruled out primarily for the following reasons:

• It would be difficult and time-consuming to construct due to the topography of the land to the east of the existing runway.
• The requirement to bring in large quantities of construction fill, the environmental effects of which will be considerable at both the origin and the construction fill.
• It would have considerable visual and noise impacts on residents of and near to Breachwood Green and The Heath and would continue to affect other areas, including those in the south of Luton.
• Lengthy periods of runway closures would be required.
• Partial reconstruction of the existing runway would be required.
• The provision of substantial additional terminal, parking, apron and ancillary infrastructure within the existing airport site would be complex and disruptive to airport operations.
• It would require major terminal and stand construction on the old landfill site, east of taxiway Delta.

[King Pong]

I see an easyjet aircraft was on taxiway Alpha this morning in the fog when it was discovered that a wheelchair passenger was still waiting to be boarded. So much for the head count.

[ebenezer]

Which are all reasons why building a new runway on the flatlands to the south of the airport are more appealing than spending a year building up the land at the 26 end before they can even start to build a runway extension.

Couldn't agree more! The Council's hair-brained idea is typical of that organisation's lack of understanding of what makes a successful major international airport and just illustrates why Luton under the Council's governance, fell into the doldrums from about 1980 until the late 1990s. In any event, it would be impossible to increase movements to a sustained 45 to 48 an hour with every aircraft taking-off from the existing runway 26 having to make the split-arse noise abatement turn away from the town that is currently required. But I can certainly see why Luton Council isn't too happy about LLAO developing beyond the existing airport boundary, given the income the Council derives without having to make any effort or re-investing it. With LLAO's own consultants having effectively ruled out the option of extending the existing runway as not being cost-effective or practical in terms of achieving what LLAO desires, it's hard to see how the Airport Company could justify such a radical change of opinion simply to placate Luton Council's incompetent cronies.

[LTNman]

It's worth remembering that Luton Airport remains publicly owned by Luton Borough Council and that in 22 years time the management agreement comes to an end. This must give the council a great deal of clout. I am also sure that the council can give the operating company notice to quite with compensation payable.

Even extending the existing runway takes the airports boundary outside Luton Borough Council control into Hertfordshire so who would own the runway extension, taxiway, the ILS glide slope equipment and the approach lights? If the existing operating company didn’t like the outcome could they close the part of the airfield they own thus knocking out the ILS and reducing the runway length, what a minefield.

[CAP493]

Originally Posted by LTNman

It's worth remembering that Luton Airport remains publicly owned by Luton Borough Council and that in 22 years time the management agreement comes to an end. This must give the council a great deal of clout.

The Concession Agreement contains a mutual 'break' clause in (I think...) 2015 at which time either party can walk away. I very much doubt that Luton Borough Council has any real 'clout' since what it has to offer just isn't that attractive because what's required as investment to develop the Airport still isn't viable over a 30-year period - a fact that for example, the consortium headed by Frankfurt Airport recognised during the initial Expression of Interest period prior to the Concession being let. The problem for Luton (and which the Council just doesn't seem able to grasp) is that despite the considerable expenditure already made by LLAO, to develop Luton into a 20m ppa + airport requires still more investment which no commercial organisation is going to undertake unless that investment is either safeguarded through outright ownership of the site, or is reasonably guaranteed to deliver an acceptable rate of return which itself, requires a longer period than is currently available under the present Concession.

The years of neglect under Luton Borough Council 's ownership have created a need for massive continuing investment which will only be undertaken by a commercial company if it makes good business sense.

It's LLAO/ACDL that has the clout and the Council knows it.

[Buster the Bear]

A bit of a conundrum for Luton Borough Council burghers then!

To develop an airport toward 20 mppa and beyond, is not the job of a Town Hall, for they must seek to maximise the town's asset, now that might mean a continued partnership, or to sell in its entirety.

For sure, the next few months will be rather enlightening!

[ebenezer]

To develop an airport toward 20 mppa and beyond, is not the job of a Town Hall

Quite so! The real conundrum for LBC is whether to continue with the Concession which is an arrangement that no other UK local-authority owned airport has put in place (one must surely ask why, if it's such a brilliantly successful idea...) or whether to abandon its outdated left-wing "don't sell-off the family silver" mindset and embrace a fully commercial concept which could see an airport on its doorstep that's truly capable of competing with the likes of BAA. Unfortunately, the noises still coming out of the Town Hall (i.e. "expand the existing site, clear the tip, extend the present runway, etc., etc") suggest that the Council still doesn't really understand the airport business or the nature of its main competitor.

All this mindless parochial shilly-shallying makes you then

[LTNman]

From the councils point of view why sell something off that is now generating a big income for the council with no effort.

[CAP493]

....why sell something off that is now generating a big income for the Council with no effort.

LBC is shi***ng itself at the prospect of losing either in part or in total, its 'golden egg' ...

Hang on a minute! LBC's concern is that the LLAO/ACDL preferred development option significantly reduces LBC's options, the value on its so-called 'assest' and ultimately, the 'unearned income' that it presently enjoys.

Isn't this discussion now just going round in circles...??