I cannot argue with you on this point Kevin, but...
" SIR - The business leaders who are advocating building a new airport in the Thames Estuary do not live in the vicinity.
There is a perfectly good airport already in place, which just needs updating, as it already has the longest runway in the country. It also has access to high-speed rail. I refer, of course, to Manston.
Jean Willis
Wigmore, Kent "
From the Telegraph letters page...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/9504277/A-third-runway-at-Heathrow-would-not-resolve-the-lack-of-airport-capacity.html