Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
#1
Easyjet are to fly from Southend to eight European destinations from next April. They always said that Manston wouldn't work because it's too close to the London airports, especially once you get to the west of the Kent. But Southend is pretty close to all the London airports. I'm beginning to think that Kent is a no hope case. What exactly is being done to redress the economic imbalance here in Kent? There's always a lot of talk, but it's other parts of the country that are walking away with all the investment.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
i don't get that one at all, southend is much more accessible from london.
i wonder what sort of assistance kent county council gave them?
#3
Exactly. I work near Southend and it is no difference to access London from there as from Manston.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
Obviously the sweetener from Manston in comparison to Southend was not enough.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#5
I know the owners of Manston - Infratil, have been making some strong representations about new users and inward investment there, seems they were unsuccessful.
Agree about the comments on Southend, but maybe the road infrastructure there is much better that we have around here.
There is to be a new train station near(er) the airport, but many people like to drive to airports, so the roads need to be good (better) too.
Roger
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#6
With all the clamour for more airports it does seem odd that Manston cant seem to get very far off the ground. If you pardon the pun! It is very disappointing as we could all use solid reliable and regular flights to a whole series of good destinations from there. How convenient would that be. Would be terrific for everyone, passengers and the local economy. Think of all the jobs. We can sure use more jobs.
Yes the aviation powers dont seem to want to know, they want to expand Lydd, they want to build another airport in the Thames estuary..they want to do anything but use Manston? why I wonder? I just dont get it.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
i believe it is the longest runway in the country too.
would thanet council be in favour of expansion or would the noise factor cause them not support it?
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
A good point Howard, local councils as well as KCC have to really push the Manston expansion, surely it would create badly needed jobs in the area.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#9
It is the 6th. longest runway in the country Howard, but can take any modern planes.
I still believe there may a be a concern about road infrastructure that stops expansion.
I think there is a concern about noise, but let's face it, it would only concern a relatively few people, as it is pretty close to the coast. NIMBY is always a concern for any large scale development.
Roger
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#10
Sadly I suspect that it is the geography that is against Manston developing. Unless you live in East Kent you would travel past Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted etc before you get here, so why would you? Freight is probably the most likely source of trade and it would be good to see a good rail/freight set up - that should create a few more jobs.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#11
Similar goes for Lydd, but both are ideal for Channel hopping.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
#12
Agree Manston is problematic in terms of geography, but likewise most people would pass Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted before arriving at Southend!
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
#13
Kevin
not if you are coming from Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire etc. We are at the back of beyond here and other than Channel hopping as Jan says (by plane, ferry or tunnel) I suspect the demand is not there for holiday trade to justify investment.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
#14
Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire have airports nearer to them, such as East Midlands, so not sure that argument stacks up. I still think there is enough latent demand for well targeted passenger services from Manston, but am unconvinced that (1) Infratil is making the sort of investments in the airport to attract airlines; and (2) that the area is being marketed well enough.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
#15
I certainly don't think that the area (East Kent/Dover) is being marketed effectively, especially in and around Belfast and Edinburgh.
I had spoken with Roger Knight of R.K. Graphics at Whitfield about printing another edition/version of the Discover Dover leaflet, but this time twice as big as the one he had done before.
Manston said they would be very happy to have the leaflet there, as well as in Belfast and Edinburgh to help promote this area, but after speaking to some major players who took space last time, they said they can't now do that and that meant there wasn't the money to get the leaflet done.
P. & O. Ferries were very happy to take the back page, but it needed other big players in it as well, to be able to get the small businesses in too and then everyone would benefit so much - including Dover as a whole.
DTC are doing their own leaflet, so they wouldn't contribute to a competing leaflet - that should be out soon I guess, I thoughht it was to be published in June/July, now we're almost in August.
The Visitor Information Centre said that the Discover Dover leaflet was the most popular one they had ever had and if people took just one leaflet, it was mine, so I know the combination of a map of the Town and area, historic sites and attractions and large and small good quality businesses, work. Others don't think so though.
Roger
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#16
To promote further airport infrastructure in East Kent, and Kent in general, implies detracting traffic from the ports, and this would be a contradictory stance to take.
The obvious strategy should be to promote port traffic to get passangers away from the airports.
#17
They are not mutually exclusive - people travel by different means for different reasons. The airport would attract more of the business market than the port, which attracts freight and tourism (allegedly).
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
alex
air freight and sea freight are two different entities entirely.
they are not in competition very often, some of the loads going through would cost more in airfreight costs than the value of the actual cargo.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#19
I know, Howard, but my reference was more to foot passengers.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
foot passengers are not an issue alex, only p & o take them in ever dwindling numbers.
more importantly the cars that go across by ferry carry a very different profile to the average plane passenger, they tend to be families that have a lot of personal effects to take to their holiday destination.
plane passengers travel light because it would cost them a massive surcharge if they didn't.
add to that most flights from manston(if they came about) would be direct to cities and resorts.
