Just focus on issues that you can influence
SO two candidates do not want Bristol Airport to grow, as it is not within their remit. Perhaps they should focus on what is.
As the airport is not within Bristol they should have no say in the matter. A major issue with our area is that Bristol refuses to allow "outsiders" to have a say on running the city that has a significant effect on the surrounding area.
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The anti-car council continuously discourages visitors and commuters reducing the footfall to shops and discouraging business development with crazy ideas like work place parking charges.
I hope Jon Rogers is practising his Clegg "I am sorry" speech for when he realises he can't deliver the promised bus fare limit.
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It is essential that the new Mayor fully supports a growing Bristol for all our benefit.
Bob Bull
Portishead
Editor's note: In our report of that debate we said Conservative candidate Geoff Gollop was against the airport expansion. This was incorrect.
I READ, with interest, the report of the mayoral candidates' thoughts on any proposed expansion of Bristol Airport.
I have to agree – 'Fly from Heathrow instead' – that is the best option. During the past 20 years I have clocked up a few million miles. For much of that time I used Bristol Airport, mainly for convenience – it is my local airport and I wanted to support it. However, I reached the point where 'enough was enough'. I could no longer stand the poor customer service, the rip-off culture of pay extra for this, pay extra for that, and put up with long queues through security with impolite treatment from arrogant staff.
Having eventually cleared security I at least had the relative calm of the executive lounge. The main concourse was worse than a football stadium. Then long treks to departure gates and queuing on stairs.
Getting to the airport is a nightmare, it requires an overpriced taxi. Eventually I gave up and went to Heathrow. What a relief!
If I booked early enough my train fare to Heathrow was no more than my taxi to Bristol Airport. I was treated with more respect at Heathrow. So I traded convenience and poor service for comfort, customer care, and quality service.
As long as Bristol Airport remains a money-grabbing operation, charging excess amounts for parking, taxis, fast-track, catering, plastic bags for liquids, and all other 'services', it doesn't deserve support for expansion proposals.
Let's invest in Filton if we want a proper airport in the West. If not then take the train to Heathrow.
Mike Reed
MAYORAL candidate George Ferguson is right, the airport is in the wrong place. When it was decided to move the airport from Whitchurch to Lulsgate, civil aviation was not anywhere near what it is today. Lulsgate was chosen as a military airfield for reasons that make it unsuitable for civilian flights, in particular, cloud cover, and the Filton runway is unlikely to be subject to subsidence.
The reason that Lulsgate was chosen was because it was available and Filton was not. Filton is now available and it should be brought into use for premium business flights, rather than any expansion at Lulsgate.
The pig's ear that is Lulsgate is never going to be a silk purse of an airport, however much money is thrown at it.
Robert Craig,
All The South Party
Comments
by Bert_Hindle
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 9:28PM
“And yet again, the folly of Greater Bristol being managed by four separate councils rears its head once again. We have demand for flights, one of the few growth sectors, but our airport is in completely the wrong place.
Sadly the boat that is Filton sailed 25 years ago due to short-term thinking. It can remain a great aviation asset to the city (and the rock by which we will save our aerospace industry), but the same short-term thinking is risking that as well.
The one thing you and guarantee in politicians is that they will never learn.”
by KBarad
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 8:15PM
“Good to know I'm not the only person who doesn't think lulsgate is a good airport for Bristol. Sadly unlike a certain someone, a few hundred of use a few times a day will have to sit in economy class lounges "worse than a football stadium", those who travel for business don't get to fly business class these days.
I also confirm that a Taxi from Lulsgate to Filton is £35, and I don't think it's even vaguely sensible to try and get there first thing in the morning or come back in the evening. On the other hand, from Filton I maintain it's actually easier, and not far from being faster, to travel to Heathrow. Even though I'm not a fan of such overcentralisation: at least they have basic things right such as access, service...and the backing of government.
Hard to really consider Lulsgate as Bristol, so in effect we are soon to be the biggest city in the country without an airport.”