The Thames is haunted.
An evil spectre has hung over its powerful currents for the past six decades, and now it's time to exorcise the river to let it fulfil its promise.
Sir Howard Davies was tasked by the Government with sifting through some four dozen proposals on the future of aviation in the south east, and he's now delivered a gift wrapped chalice for ministers to sup from over Christmas. Of all the plans submitted, Sir Howard and his team believe better management of existing resources will help meet demand for increased flights and then favours new runways at existing airports, with Heathrow currently out-pacing Gatwick.
The surprise in his report was the inclusion of a new airport on Kent's Hoo Peninsula. But he then immediately scuppered that option, stating it is too expensive; he puts it at £112 billion, almost double the backers estimates. More importantly, he highlighted the environmental destruction an airport in the Thames Estuary would cause. It is a mosaic of habitats, which collectively create one of the UK's most biodiverse landscapes, making it our Serengeti. Sue Armstrong-Brown, RSPB head of policy, said: “We have always said the Thames Estuary is a disastrous place to put an airport. It supports many thousands of wintering birds and other wildlife. Every time a spotlight is put on the estuary as a potential site for an airport it is revealed to be both an environmental disaster and economic lunacy. The more scrutiny put on this proposal, the more clear it will be for all concerned that it is a non starter."
So why was it included? Zac Goldsmith MP and Mayor Boris Johnson maintain Sir Howard 's commission was not independent. Some media reports spedculate it's given the Government time to reshuffle their cards having publicly opposed expansion at Heathrow. Sir Howard himself says it is only fair they study the proposal further because it is an entirely new airport and infrastructure rather than an extension of existing facilities.
Earlier in the year, he told me he was adamant that his final report would NOT include any proposal which was environmentally damaging. Given the signs then and now, the logical and sensible conclusion is that the Mighty Thames Estuary should have a happy new year, free of wicked spirits.