At my surgery on Friday I had an interesting conversation with people concerned about a range of environmental matters.
We discussed the government’s targets for CO2 emissions, the state of the fossil fuel industry, the contribution of meat and agriculture to emissions, taxation of domestic heating fuel and aviation, family size, population growth and female education in low income countries, food miles and other important matters.
We found considerable common ground over energy conservation, helping countries out of poverty, more local produce, more holidays in the UK, better balanced diets and the role technology can play in improving our quality of life and protecting the environment. As readers of the blog will know I am keen to promote more tree planting, to have more home produced food, to make it cheaper and easier to insulate homes, improve heating and control systems and reduce energy usage through greater energy efficiency.
I did not feel able to support ideas to make domestic fuel dearer by higher taxes given the impact this would have on fuel poverty nor to unilaterally make UK air flights dearer when we cannot do the same to competitors.
August 12, 2019
Interesting looking at the recent consultation documents for Heathrow expansion, which must have been printed at huge cost, but are well illustrated.
Issued on 18th June 2019 all replies to be in by 13th September 2019 (during a holiday period for most people)
I was interested to note that an emissions tax is to be charged on all vehicles entering the Heathrow area from 2020 (same as central London scheme) it would seem. Then later on a fixed entry charge/penalty will be made for access.
That to encourage more use of Public transport there will be fewer places to park your car at the airport in percentage terms to passenger use than at present.
That they are planning for a 50% use of public transport to get to Heathrow.
That taxies, private car hire will be expected/encouraged to have a return load to avoid single journeys. (not sure how that will work given the massive waiting charges at present)
Thus the simple use of family and friends to take you to the airport without hassle, will now be penalised.
Thus more people will be struggling with large cases to use on public transport, some having to travel on public transport during the rush hour with their cases, but before that having to struggle with cases to get to bus stops or train stations, unless again friends and family can help.
Clearly a lot of thought has gone into this 30 year construction programme, yes that is correct 30 years, but have they really looked at this from a simple users point of view ?
I also see that they can, and indeed will, increase Heathrows present capacity by a good margin, and indeed show how this can happen by using the PRESENT RUNWAYS in a different manner.
I thought Heathrow was supposed to be up to maximum capacity at the moment ?