BAA mortgaging our futures?

Reports that BAA has mortgaged its entire assets and taken out mortgages on dozens of local homes are nothing else but staggering.The news comes as it is also reported that a public inquiry into its proposals for a second runway could still be years away

The Stop Stansted Expansion campaign group has said that documents recently filed with Companies House show BAA Stansted has mortgaged its entire assets and even taken out mortgages with the Royal Bank of Scotland on at least 39 local homes bought by the company in connection with its plans for a second runway.

I have repeatedly questioned the need for a second runway giving falling passenger numbers and a drop in the number of flights to and from the west Essex airport. I've said time and time again that there is no need for second runway. Now, it appears, BAA is mortgaged up to the hilt and continues to blight peoples' lives with its proposals that are totally unnecessary.

The Conservatives have already said that they will scrap proposals for a second runway. This pledge was made by Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers when she visited Harlow and Hastingwood and met with me last March. According to Stop Stansted Expansion, BAA’s financial accounts for 2009 show that Stansted's operating profit slumped from £81 million in 2008 to £27 million last year, reflecting the sharp downturn in passenger numbers and flights at the airport.

Given the gravity of BAA's reported financial position, how on earth can be remain committed to a £3 billion second runway project - the cost of which will only soar, in sharp contrast to the planes which remain grounded because of the drop in passengers wanting to make use of air travel to and from Essex?

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Parliamentary Committee slams BAA & Gordon Brown's extra runway for Stansted

I am glad that the influential House of Commons Transport Committee concludes that a case for Gordon Brown's second runway at Stansted has not been made.

This only underlines what the Conservatives said months ago. David Cameron has already said that he would scrap proposals for a second runway at the west Essex airport if Conservatives win the next general election.

This pledge was confirmed by Shadow Transport Secretary Teresa Villiers MP - when she visited Harlow and Hastingwood and met with me in March.

We have already seen a delay to the start of a public inquiry over Stansted expansion and passenger numbers at the west Essex airport have dropped significantly.

The bottom line is that Stansted and the aviation industry as it stands at the moment does not need another runway at Stansted.

In addition, the people of west Essex whose homes have been blighted by the prospect of a second runway need to know once and for all that any threat of expansion will be lifted.

Only then they can at last get on with living and enjoying their lives - without the threat of noise and pollution - should these plans ever go ahead.

The 'Future of Aviation' inquiry report questions the need for a second runway at Stansted. I echo the views of the Stop Stansted Expansion group which says the Government is "flogging a dead horse" in its efforts to build a second Stansted runway.

Many months ago now I said that these expansion plans were not just in tatters but in tiny shreds. Those views have only been underlined by the conclusions of this report.

P.S. Its funny how Gordon Brown can talk the talk when it comes to saving the planet at the Copenhagen summit , yet wants to destroy the environment in England, with his airport expansion plans.

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