So Heathrow has finally been chosen, by the Airports Commission, as the recommended place for expansion. Presumably even those who wanted Gatwick will eventually have to put up with it. But what I want to know, and have not seen reported at all, is what happened about the sewage farm.
Even in the early 70s when I was involved with the British Airports Authority, there was much talk of the need for more runways and airports. The proposal for constructing the island of Maplin was taken seriously – and had got as far as the Port of London Authority working out, with a wonderful replica of rocks and real water, exactly what such a brand new island would do to the currents and tides even at quite a distance. There was talk, too, about extending Heathrow, but then it was an immovable sewage farm that completely blocked the way.
At the time I couldn’t resist writing: “If we could shift the sewage we could solve the thing in one/ But whenever we suggest it, we’re told it can’t be done/ They don’t want the stuff in Hampstead/ they’ve enough in Camden Town/ if we offered it to Oxford they’d be sure to turn it down/ If there’s nowhere in all England that’s prepared to stand the stench/ let us run it up the tunnel and dump it on the French.”
They didn’t – but how come it doesn’t seem to be included in the current debate… could it just have rotted away?
Ooops, a sharp-eyed editor has pointed out it was turned into Terminal 5. I still think my solution is better.
What do you think? Have your say below
