tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post767151347858627008..comments2023-11-03T23:18:25.999+00:00Comments on BIGNEWS MARGATE: WELL DONE CLIVE - Labour's Manston Policy pay's offTony Flaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-30296124935197674722012-03-15T10:17:11.387+00:002012-03-15T10:17:11.387+00:00The key phrase could be 'as a passenenger airp...The key phrase could be 'as a passenenger airport' which does not necessarily mean it has no prospect as an airfield completely.<br /><br />There are many small airports in the UK operating on private aircraft, flying schools and light freight without large passenger airlines.<br /><br />Maybe so far the business plan has been slanted in the wrong direction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-46260004882937779412012-03-14T16:55:01.419+00:002012-03-14T16:55:01.419+00:00Before the MoD moved out TDC had in their possessi...Before the MoD moved out TDC had in their possession a consultants' report which stated quite clearly, that Manston had little potential as a passenger airport. <br /><br />Having paid a large chunk of our money to get this report, TDC then proceeded to ignore the advice and has spent the last thirteen or fourteen years trying to persuade us that Manston should be the central plank of regeneration. <br /><br />I think this has gone on long enough. We now have years of evidence to confirm that, whilst Manston may have massive imaginary potential, it has no realistic prospect of making a profit. <br /><br />The Council needs to make up its mind about plan B (i.e. what else would be an acceptable form of development on the airfield?) and needs to communicate this to potential investors. <br /><br />We have to remember that the last time it went bust, there were other bids for non-airport uses and that at least one of these was a bigger bid than Infratil's. It was the Council that insisted it had to remain as an airport. It's time the Council stopped standing in the way of progress and allowed other users to put forward their schemes for the airfield.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-42424166170527934632012-03-13T12:34:08.796+00:002012-03-13T12:34:08.796+00:00Touché, Yogi, and now we better make like invisibl...Touché, Yogi, and now we better make like invisible because I can hear the ranger coming (or is it a Jumbo)!Boo Boonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-88081032354947965352012-03-12T19:18:29.355+00:002012-03-12T19:18:29.355+00:00Boo boo. We can certainly agree there are no winne...Boo boo. We can certainly agree there are no winners.<br /><br />After all, we are smarter than the average bear n'est ce pas?yogi bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811389381535232374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-37578368278904440732012-03-12T19:16:57.971+00:002012-03-12T19:16:57.971+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.yogi bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811389381535232374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-20047538412056384272012-03-12T15:53:03.770+00:002012-03-12T15:53:03.770+00:00Shinguard you clearly stated that Eujet failed at ...Shinguard you clearly stated that Eujet failed at Manston and that Infratil can only make it work by accepting night freight flights. By implication then it is Manston and not the owners or airlines that have failed.<br /><br />Perhaps then you could explain why Eujet also ceased operations from Shannon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-77020727284293614672012-03-12T15:27:06.669+00:002012-03-12T15:27:06.669+00:00Who said anything about 'in the wrong place...Who said anything about 'in the wrong place'?Shinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13776002539305724114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-80987885809241337482012-03-12T13:49:37.363+00:002012-03-12T13:49:37.363+00:00Shinguard, not very well informed are we. Eujet c...Shinguard, not very well informed are we. Eujet ceased trading, because their owners went into liquidation, totally from both Shannon and Manston. Perhaps Shannon was in the wrong place as well?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-54019912060316401802012-03-12T13:31:20.860+00:002012-03-12T13:31:20.860+00:00Yogi, my bear type friend, I am not accusing you o...Yogi, my bear type friend, I am not accusing you of dishonesty nor am I losing the argument for, frankly, their are no winners in this situation, least of all the good people of Thanet. I am simply trying to offer the alternative case.<br /><br />As for Shinguard, it is not just cargo planes that fly at night and most airlines like the option to use night slots under certain circumstances. As for Labour, the only thing they got right was that by jumping on the 'no to night flights' bandwagon they could pull some extra votes in parts of Ramsgate. When actually handed the responsibility of leading TDC, they were no more capable of taking a positive stand on the issue, either way, than the previous lot.<br /><br />Anon 11:50, nail on the head, old chap. Personally I would have been much more interested in flying to Paris or Barcelona than Edinburgh.Boo Boonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-68512422497394302942012-03-12T13:04:16.265+00:002012-03-12T13:04:16.265+00:00Eujet failed at Manston in 2005 even though econom...Eujet failed at Manston in 2005 even though economic conditions were perfect, Flybe also failed this year when things were a lot tougher, Infratil have pulled the plug because they can't sell day time slots but could only make a profit with noisy old freight aircraft flying throughout the night.<br /><br />I think the Labour Group got this call absolutely right.Shinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13776002539305724114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-82387373791185248962012-03-12T12:45:25.414+00:002012-03-12T12:45:25.414+00:00Boo boo, kindly refrain from accusing me of being ...Boo boo, kindly refrain from accusing me of being dishonest.Just because you're finding it hard to win an argument is no reason to start being personal. It just shows what a weak case you have.<br />Why on earth would anyone want to fly into Manston to go back across the channel by ferry? Wouldn't it be easier to fly to France or Belgium in the first place?<br />You haven't answered my question anyway. If its such a great idea how come it hasn't blossomed into a thriving hub by now?yogi bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811389381535232374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-35242394104396660992012-03-12T11:50:33.956+00:002012-03-12T11:50:33.956+00:00Quoting Flybe proves nothing. Since when did the ...Quoting Flybe proves nothing. Since when did the General Manager, CEO or proprietor of a failed business venture ever say I stuffed up or I had a crap business plan. No, human nature and job preservation demands an excuse for failure.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-70836113963449269892012-03-12T11:28:50.847+00:002012-03-12T11:28:50.847+00:00Why am I blinkered when simply offering the altern...Why am I blinkered when simply offering the alternative view to you. People are happy to confine Manston's catchment area to Thanet, but suggest the same limitation to another regional airport and it suddenly becomes ludicrous. Yes, I only used Exeters population but did likewise for Thanet. How about Dover, Deal, Canterbury, Faversham and the whole of East Kent. If the flights were there would people not use them.<br /><br />Add the fact that Gatwick and Heathrow are at capacity, without additional runways, and there is potential for overspill going elsewhere.<br /><br />As for Flybe, who knows, but how many times has one seen a business suceed in the same location that an earlier, seemingly identical one, failed.<br /><br />You may be right, but I still think it is too soon to call it game over, especially when the area so desperately needs all it can get to give it a boost.Boo Boonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-83545217768635285282012-03-11T20:41:33.378+00:002012-03-11T20:41:33.378+00:00I actually do want a viable regional airport at Ma...I actually do want a viable regional airport at Manston and I do not live anywhere near the flightpath but I just look at the facts and see it will not work here. It ain't those nasty anti-airport people who are stopping it being a success but the markets. The airports you quote are regional with a limited selection of destinations therefore they can share destinations, they are not near to two hub airports flying everywhere and the biggest charter airport in the world. <br /><br />Argue all you like in your blinkered, ill-informed way, afterall it was you who came up with the ludicrous argument regarding Exeter Airports catchment area being that of the citys population itself but please answer this multiple-choice question:<br /><br />Why did FLYBEE withdraw all its operations from Manston:<br /><br />a/ No Night-flight slots<br />b/ Moaning local residents<br />c/ Horrid, nasty Local Politicians<br />d/ Not enough passengers due to small catchment area(quote from FLYBEE)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-76732014867813043742012-03-11T20:16:06.345+00:002012-03-11T20:16:06.345+00:00Exeter is not the only airport serving the west co...Exeter is not the only airport serving the west country for there are further regional airports at Plymouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Bristol all within about two hours radius. Yogi and friends seem to make it up as they go along and ignore anything that does not fit their case.<br /><br />I don't have a problem with you not wanting an airport but please be honest about it. You just don't want one near to where you live. Viability and all this malarkey about catchment areas is just that, malarkey.Boo Boonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-35215233777036078882012-03-11T16:53:31.728+00:002012-03-11T16:53:31.728+00:00My next question is.... if it is a viable site for...My next question is.... if it is a viable site for an airport, how come no operator has been able to make a go of it?<br />Don't give me the needs-night- flights-to-make-it-viable mularky either.yogi bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811389381535232374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-33696919040690754052012-03-11T15:47:53.090+00:002012-03-11T15:47:53.090+00:00Exeter airport serves the population of Cornwall a...Exeter airport serves the population of Cornwall and Devon which has a total population of 1.3million not just the people of Exeter for Gods sake, nor does it have Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted within a two-hour drive. Nor does it have speedy access to the channel tunnel trains or ferries which compete with air travel.<br />Flybee use Exeter very successfully something they were unable to do at Manston.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-64567190053385999732012-03-11T15:29:45.848+00:002012-03-11T15:29:45.848+00:00Exeter serving a population of 117,600. Thanet...Exeter serving a population of 117,600. Thanet's population 129,200 so what was that about no catchment area.<br /><br />Of the many regional airports run successfully in the UK several were former RAF bases. What was once remote is not necessarily so anymore.<br /><br />Next question, Yogi?Boo Boonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-40157547287499878372012-03-11T15:29:36.046+00:002012-03-11T15:29:36.046+00:00Only if you name one that isn't.Only if you name one that isn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-59836923297467534572012-03-11T14:54:40.282+00:002012-03-11T14:54:40.282+00:009.51. Name one please9.51. Name one pleaseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-39734838114022156452012-03-11T10:49:04.395+00:002012-03-11T10:49:04.395+00:009 51 Well said9 51 Well saidTony Flaighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212662248741515725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-27793411955311903742012-03-11T09:51:32.666+00:002012-03-11T09:51:32.666+00:00Anything? Just wait for the protests what ever el...Anything? Just wait for the protests what ever else is proposed. This is Thanet after all and everything has to be objected to or used as a vote catcher by a certain party. Nothing can ever be done for the good of the majority.<br /><br />As for Yogi Bear, is Manston anymore geographically challenged than Lydd? Oh, and just how remote is an hour and a half from London or thirty minutes to the Channel tunnel and ports. There are plenty of successful regional airports equally, if not more, remote than Manston.Boo Boonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-45665339770627187622012-03-11T08:51:10.704+00:002012-03-11T08:51:10.704+00:00Why are so many people convinced that having an ai...Why are so many people convinced that having an airport on Thanet is a good idea? I was born and brought up about 2 miles from Heathrow and i saw the town i was born in go from a semi rural happy community to a traffic choked, concrete ghetto in 10 years.<br />Now the place is somewhere you just want to leave as soon as you arrive.<br />No one in their right mind is going to want to fly to or from anywhere into or out of Manston. It is miles from anywhere. That is why it was an RAF base. Notions of a high speed rail link are fantasies. It's not going to happen. When it was touted as "London's International airport" it was laughable and it still is. It must be turned into something else. An all weather leisure complex, a Centre Parc, a water park, a woodland and wildlife centre like Fowlmead. Anything other than an airport.yogi bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01811389381535232374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-37227687604154560052012-03-10T20:12:00.233+00:002012-03-10T20:12:00.233+00:00Passenger charter airlines like using night slots ...Passenger charter airlines like using night slots to save money, and if flying with narrow-bodies are quite labour intensive to handle, but the austere economic climate means less foreign excursions for the bucket and spade brigade.<br /><br />Other than that I agree with 10:15 that Manston is geographically challenged.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25954340.post-52823142512416746502012-03-10T13:55:56.843+00:002012-03-10T13:55:56.843+00:00Labour only got on the bandwagon of no night fligh...Labour only got on the bandwagon of no night flights to temp the Ramsgate electorate last year - and it paid off, so we had a hung council. It was an underhand trick and now we're stuck with them. <br />But I like the idea of a film set at Manston!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com