http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk en-us info@finesse-escorts.co.uk Actress Jerry Hall has joined the ranks of celebrity protestors who oppose runway expansion at Heathrow airport. Ms Hall, the former wife of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, joined a group of mothers and their children at a climate change rally outside Parliament. Some of the children were dressed up as animals that organisers say are at risk of extinction caused by climate change. In January, the government approved a controversial plan to add a third runway at the west London airport. The move w http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/jerry-hall-joins-heathrow-protest_121.html 16-04-2009 Councils opposed to plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport are launching a legal bid against the government at the High Court. The 2M group, which comprises of 23 councils, will on Tuesday seek a judicial review into the government's approval of the plan in January. The group will say the government failed to hold a lawful consultation. London Mayor Boris Johnson and green groups, including Greenpeace, are backing the legal challenge. In January Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon approve http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/heathrow-expansion-taken-to-court_120.html 16-04-2009 A legal appeal has begun by councils opposed to the decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow. At the High Court the 2M group, which represents 23 local authorities, applied for a judicial review of the government's approval of the expansion. The group is arguing the decision was irrational and that the consultation process was not lawful. A Department for Transport spokesman has said it stands by its decision to expand the west London airport. If permission for a review is granted, t http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/challenge-to-heathrow-runway-plan_119.html 16-04-2009 A secondary school near Heathrow Airport has been given £350,000 by airport operator BAA to install new windows to help lower noise pollution. Churchmead School in Datchet, near Windsor, Berkshire, will get double-glazing over the Easter holidays. BAA says noise is one of the biggest concerns of communities living near Heathrow, the world's busiest airport for international flights. Funds are provided under the Community Buildings Noise Insulation Scheme. Sensitive buildings The scheme wa http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/baa-helps-heathrow-school-noise_118.html 16-04-2009 Heathrow is the worst international airport for passport queues and baggage problems, a survey has suggested. However the airport was rated as second best for security, coming only behind New York's JFK Airport. It won the top spot among UK airports. BAA said £1bn was now being spent to improve all baggage services at Heathrow. The survey for the WAYN social networking site interviewed more than 2,250 travellers from across the globe. Travellers said Heathrow had the longest waits for bagga http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/heathrow-is-worst-for-queuing_107.html 14-03-2009     The chaotic opening of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 showed "serious failings" by British Airways and airport operator BAA, MPs have said. The event in March was a source of "national embarrassment", the House of Commons Transport Committee said. It said the problems, which included cancelled flights and thousands of bags going missing, "could and should" have been avoided with better planning. The companies have apologised and said the situation had improved since then. 'Long queues' http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/t5-was-national-embarrassment_106.html 14-03-2009     Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has announced government approval for a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport. Here is an examination of the issue. What is being proposed? The plan is for a new 7,200ft runway, allowing the annual number of take-offs and landings to increase to 605,000 by 2020 and 720,000 by 2030 - up from 480,000 today. A new terminal, capable of handling 35 million passengers per year, would serve long and short-haul services. A new tunnel would allow the A4 to pass http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/goahead-for-new-heathrow-runway_105.html 14-03-2009 By Pippa CrerarDouglas Oakervee, who is carrying out a feasibility study for the Mayor, said it was quite clear it would be relatively straightforward to build a new airport. After visiting the site with Mr Johnson, he said he was encouraged that the project which has been dubbed fantasy island by critics was possible. But the Mayor still faces major obstacles to his plan, which has been disowned by his own party, including local opposition, criticism from green groups and the problem of raisi http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/engineer-backs-boris-johnsons-plan-for-an-estuary-airport_98.html 26-01-2009 By Chris Gourlay BORIS JOHNSON, the London mayor, has unveiled detailed proposals for a £40 billion airport spanning the Thames estuary in a move aimed at presenting a credible alternative to the governments plans for expanding Heathrow. Early findings from a study by the engineer behind Hong Kongs island airport suggest that a four-runway airport is both technically feasible and would serve Britain better. It could be built in eight years, he said. The bold scheme entails splitting the airport http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/boris-johnson-unveils-40bn-heathrowonsea_97.html 26-01-2009 The government is putting forward plans for an international rail interchange at Heathrow alongside its proposals for a third runway at the airport. Transport Minister Lord Adonis told The Sunday Times the hub would enable more passengers to travel to Heathrow by train rather than by car. The £4.5bn hub would also link London and the north of Britain with destinations on the continent. Green campaigners said they supported it as an alternative to the runway. Established plans Lord Adonis said: " http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/rail-plan-proposed-for-heathrow_96.html 14-01-2009 A third runway at Heathrow will be a "white elephant" unless aviation is made greener, a think tank has said. The Institute of Public Policy Research said if the runway is approved, conditions for meeting noise and emissions targets must be attached. After months of speculation, the prime minister is expected to rubber stamp the controversial plans this week. A Sunday newspaper claims London Mayor Boris Johnson will lead a legal challenge if the scheme is agreed. The Sunday Times says a report p http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/heathrow-runway-white-elephant_95.html 14-01-2009 A third runway at Heathrow risks the health of thousands of Londoners, a Greater London Authority report states. Its expansion would increase nitrogen dioxide emissions which already breach EU limits, said the draft report commissioned by mayor Boris Johnson. At least 700 properties would have to be demolished, including 100 listed buildings, the report added. The government is due to rule on the plans this week. If approved, the mayor said he would challenge the decision. The airport industry, http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/heathrow-plan-would-risk-health_94.html 14-01-2009 Gordon Brown has been accused of "dithering" over a third runway for Heathrow, as campaigners step up protests in anticipation of a decision. A decision had been expected this week but the PM's spokesman would only confirm one would be made "in January". The Tories said pressure was growing on the PM while the Lib Dems said he was trying to "buy himself... more time". Meanwhile campaigners have bought land earmarked for the runway's construction in a bid to thwart the plans. Asked whether a deci http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/brown-dithering-over-heathrow_93.html 14-01-2009 By Jon LandLeaders of 22 councils opposed to the expansion of Heathrow have warned ministers that expanding the airport would cause 'irreparable damage' to the quality of life for people under runway flightpaths. The 2M group says the airport has reached its maximum size and should not be allowed to grow any further. Members will resist measures to expand the existing runways or build a new third runway. Councillors say the Transport Department has failed to prove that adding more flights at the http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/council-leaders-warn-heathrow-expansion-could-cause-irreparable-damage_92.html 14-01-2009 By Henry Chu Reporting from London -- And the award for best stalling tactic goes to . . . a coalition of environmentalists, scientists and actors -- including two-time Oscar winner Emma Thompson -- who are determined to scupper plans by the British government to build a new runway for Heathrow Airport. The motley crew has bought a small plot of land, about an acre in size, in the heart of the development area where an extra runway would be situated. The group vows to subdivide the property into http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/activists-buy-plot-to-halt-heathrow-airport-expansion-plans_91.html 14-01-2009 More than 12,500 British Airways (BA) customers in Bahrain have passed through London Heathrow airport's Terminal 5 in the two months since it opened, it was revealed yesterday.BA Middle East commercial manager Paul Starrs said there had been a remarkable transformation in punctuality since the travel chaos which marred the opening of the £4.3 billion (BD2.95m) facility in March.Flights to and from Bahrain were originally due to begin using the complex on April 30, but it was postponed until Sep http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/ba-traffic-at-heathrow-terminal-5-on-the-rise_77.html 18-11-2008 By James KirkupMr Johnson's spokesman said he is backing a group of London councils considering asking the courts to intervene in the runway decision."The mayor is anxious to ensure that the concerns of Londoners whose environment would be affected by a further expansion of Heathrow are fully addressed," his spokesman said.Any legal action would argue that by expanding Heathrow, the Government would break its European Union obligations to cut CO2 emissions.A government consultation on Heathrow c http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/boris-johnson-pledges-15000-for-legal-challenge-to-heathrow-expansion_76.html 18-11-2008 The British Airports Authority (BAA) is calling for a high-speed rail link to Heathrow to complement a third runway at the west London airport.The company believes Heathrow needs both if it is to compete with other European airports.The airport operator will make the call to politicians and rail organisations at a rail conference in London.A decision on the third runway at Heathrow will be made by the government by the end of the year.BAA will point out that in Paris and Frankfurt, airport capac http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/baa-in-heathrow-rail-link-call_60.html 26-10-2008 By Matthew Weaver A pilot suspected of being drunk was arrested on board a passenger jet at London's Heathrow's airport moments before he was due to fly hundreds of people to San Francisco, police confirmed today.The 44-year-old was breath-tested then escorted off the waiting plane by officers at terminal one at 9am yesterday.The first officer for United Airlines was arrested after a tip-off from ground staff, according to the Sun newspaper. He has been bailed to return to Heathrow police statio http://articles.finesse-escorts.co.uk/drunk-pilot-arrested-at-heathrow_59.html 26-10-2008