Comment re Estuary Airport Article

Here is my comment to Paul Francis' article at KentOnlineBlogs, where he tries to suggest that George Osborne's Autumn Statement yesterday gives an undeclared green light to the estuary (or similar) airport idea...

"Not cleared at all. Anyone who knows anything about government procedures (which I do, having spent decades on both sides of the fence at local and national level), as well as human nature will realise that the only way to authoritatively eliminate an undesirable proposal is to go through the full process first.

Especially with a powerful figure such as the Mayor of London firmly in the equation, it couldn't be simply dismissed out of hand. There would be demands to look at it again and again until a full & thorough job had been done. The best way to kill it quickly is to have a broad-based review of aviation needs.

Although there is no guarantee this would result in a firm and (effectively permanent) "no", it is the most likely outcome, especially with the recent communications between Ministers past and present to local MP Mark Reckless. Whatever, though, it is the only way it could be done, so I am pleased this route is being taken, and so should you and Medway residents."