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

Pledge from Essex County Council re A414 Improvements

I have continued call on the Government for action on a northern relief road (an extra bypass on the M11), having secured the promise of support from Essex County Council.

I have been campaigning for a northern relief road for many years
(see my website www.fedupwithharlowtraffic.com) but the situation is reaching breaking point. We've waited ten years for Labour to do something, but we're still waiting for the substance.

'm very pleased to have secured a pledge from Lord Hanningfield, leader of Essex County Council, to underwrite a comprehensive feasibility study for delivering the road. He has also recently stepped up the pressure on the government, by asking written questions in Parliament about the scheme on my behalf.

After discussing the issue with him, I am also very grateful for the support of the leader of Harlow District Council, Cllr. Andrew Johnson, who has pledged support in developing the plans.

In addition, I am lobbying him to seek extra investment into highways monitoring to make a strong case to the government.

Theresa Villiers, Shadow Transport Secretary, has also campaigned with me against Harlow congestion at a national level, and has confirmed that she is absolutely clear on the need for a bypass in Harlow.

I welcome Lord Hanningfield's comments:

"It is time that the Government listened to the people of Harlow and Robert Halfon's campaign".

P.S. The picture shows me with Senior Conservative Transport Spokeswoman Theresa Villiers MP

P.P.S. For further details see HERE

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.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Good news on Stansted and the Traffic Bypass

Its been a good day with Shadow Transport Secretary visiting Harlow and Hastingwood.

As I mentioned in my previous post, Theresa was here because of my campaign for an extra Bypass on the M11. She also confirmed Conservative opposition against an extra runway at Stansted. For Theresa's full statement, see below:



Extra Traffic Bypass on the M11,

"I was pleased to come to Harlow and discuss this issue with Robert Halfon and others. Robert has lobbied me extensively - and regularly - on this issue and I understand the need for an extra bypass. Were a Conservative Government to be elected, I will look at this Bypass issue seriously".

On Stansted

"I am glad to confirm today that, if elected, a Conservative Government will not allow a second runway at Stansted to be built. It is odd that Government Minister and local Labour MP says he opposes a second runway, yet his own Government is forcing it through. His position is irreconcilable as a Government Minister".

This is really good news for residents of Harlow and the surrounding villages. I am delighted that Conservative policy is to oppose a second runway, as it would destroy our countryside and add to noise and pollution. it is also good news that the Shadow Transport Secretary is now well aware of the Bypass issue as this is desperately needed. Local residents deserve nothing less.

Cutting taxes for Savers

I mentioned in my blog posting last night that when Shadow Cabinet Minister Theresa Villiers MP, visits Harlow this morning, she will also be making a major announcement on Savings on behalf of David Cameron and the Conservative Shadow Cabinet. If you click on the weblink below, it will give you further details:

Conservative Press Release on Savings

This is good news. It seems so wrong that those who saved all their lives are now seeing their investment vanishing - because of Gordon Brown's mismanagement of the economy and drowning the country in debt.

Fed up with Harlow Traffic and a New Shell Garage on the A414

One of the best things about travelling back to Harlow late at night is that the roads are quiet and there is no traffic hold-up on Junction 7 the A414 or Southern Way. Everyone knows that traffic in Harlow at peak times is pretty unbearable.

That's why for the last two years I have been campaigning hard for an extra bypass on the M11 just past Junction 7, so that drivers would have another entry point into Harlow. I set up a website about it called http://www.fedupwithharlowtraffic.com/ and have been overwhelmed by the support from local residents. Even the Labour MP for Harlow has agreed to join the campaign and has held talks with other Ministers about it. Hopefully many of you reading this will receive a special card about the extra bypass, through your letter box over the next couple of weeks. Do fill it in and send it back.

That is why I am delighted that tomorrow, Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Teresa Villiers MP will be coming to Harlow. I hope to hear from the Shadow Minister whether or not a future Conservative Government would be able to support the bypass proposal - particularly after ten years of a Labour Government that has seen no real action at all on this major issue.

This is all the more astonishing as the Government are forcing the concreting of our countryside with thousands of extra buildings- so a new bypass will be needed more than ever.

On another front, I understand that Miss Villiers will be making a special announcement on tax and pensions on behalf of David Cameron, so it should be an interesting day.

Incidentally, it was nice to see, stop and fill up petrol at the shiny new Shell Garage on the A414. The rebuild makes the Garage look really smart. It now sells loads of food and has a decent coffee machine! Most importantly - unlike BP on the opposite side of the road - petrol is sold at reasonable prices, with diesel costing 96.9p a litre (it is over £1 at BP).

Anyway, off to bed now. I will fill you in on what happens with the Shadow Cabinet Minister's visit tomorrow afternoon.

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No to BAA!

I am passionately against an extra runway at Stansted Airport and I think BAA has a lot to answer for. Heathrow Airport - except T5 is a disgrace. I am glad that BAA will now be forced to sell off Stansted and I have issued the below Statement to the media in response:

Press release
Issued: March 19, 2009

PROSPECTIVE CONSERVATIVE MP HAILS STANSTED SELL-OFF AS GOOD NEWS FOR LOCAL PEOPLE - AND THE GREEN BELT

NEWS that Stansted Airport operator BAA must sell the west Essex airport is good news and should safeguard thousands of acres of land from being concreted over as part of the controversial plans for a second runway, according to prospective Conservative MP Robert Halfon.

Mr Halfon, who will be contesting the Harlow parliamentary constituency which includes Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering, said: "This announcement is good news for residents in Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering.

"Residents have been badly served by the attempts by Gordon Brown and BAA to
bulldoze through an extra runway, destroying our countryside and cherished green belt and causing significant environmental damage through pollution.

"Thank goodness, a future Conservative Government is opposed to a second runway and will not allow it to be built, despite Gordon Brown's determination to have one dumped on us.

"Hopefully BAA will now concentrate on properly running Heathrow Airport at
last."

The sale announcement was made by the Competition Commission and means BAA
must sell off Stansted, Gatwick and either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "The Conservatives have been calling for BAA's monopoly to be broken up for over a year so I welcome the Competition Commission's recommendation that BAA should loosen its grip and sell Gatwick and Stansted.

"We will continue to keep pressure on BAA to ensure it improves the quality of service it gives customers in the airports it retains. Only then will it be possible to address the Heathrow hassle that can cause so much frustration to business passengers and holiday-makers."