Present:
Val Shawcross CBE – HATF (Chair)
Mark Frost – HATF (Independent Technical Advisor)
Tony Caccavone – Heathrow Airport Limited (Surface Access Director)
Paul Millin – Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (Chair, Transport Sub Group)
Joanna Grew – Network Rail (Industry Programme Director [Heathrow & TVA])
Christian Wolmar – London Cycling Campaign (Trustee)
Adam Tyndall – London First (Programme Director)
Alan Tilly – London Borough of Hillingdon (Transport and Aviation Team Manager)
Peter Bradley – UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) (Managing Director)
Richard Harrington – Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Chief Executive Officer)
Non-members:
Becky Coffin – HAL (Director of Communities and Sustainability) Timothy Wells – HAL (Surface Access Travel and Policy Lead) Matthew Wooll – HAL (Route Development Lead)
Rathish Ramachandran – HAL (Surface Access Intern)
Apologies:
Nigel Wicking – Airline Consultative Committee (AOC Chief Executive)
Liz Garlinge – National Highways (Strategic Projects Director)
David Stroud – British International Freight Association (Policy & Compliance Advisor) Anthony Smith – Transport Focus (Chief Executive)
Shamal Ratnayaka – Transport for London (Aviation Strategy Lead)
Wayne King – Unite (Regional Secretary)
Kris Beuret – Representative for local communities
Mark Purchase – CPT (Operations Manager)
Matt Furniss – Surrey County Council (Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure)
1. Welcome and Introductions
The Chair welcomed everyone to the first in-person Board meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
2. Active Travel
a. HSPG Update
Paul Millin provided an update on HSPG’s active travel work.
A bid has been submitted to National Highways which involved collaboration between Local Authorities and HAL. HSPG is awaiting the outcome but if successful it would provide funding for improvements on key active travel routes to Heathrow.
TfL are in the very early stages of reviewing the Hounslow to Heathrow corridor with the aim to improve bus journey time reliability and active travel provision.
b. HAL Update
Tim Wells gave an update on HAL’s active travel work. See slides for further details.
An Active Travel Special Interest Group will start in February 2022 to further shape proposals both at the airport and on routes to/from the airport. This will be chaired by board member Christian Wolmar.
3. HATF Response to CAA Initial Proposals Consultation
The Chair outlined HATF’s position on the CAA’s Initial Proposals Consultation, which sets the framework for assessing the adequacy of the airport’s business plan including funding for surface access improvements and decarbonisation. HATF’s key concern is that funding for reducing emissions from surface access is not deemed to be a priority under the current assessment framework. The board agreed to provide a submission to the consultation highlighting the need for a rethink on this point.
Richard Harrington noted there would also be merit in engaging with the DfT as the body responsible for setting the terms of reference for the regulator, which clearly needs some element of reframing or amending in the light of the challenge thrown down by COP26 to reduce emissions as quickly as possible. It was agreed that HATF would send a further letter to the DfT highlighting the response made to the CAA consultation and requesting further direction provided to the regulator.
NB. Final letters circulated with these minutes.
4. Heathrow 2.0 Refresh Update
Becky Coffin provided an update on the Heathrow 2.0 refresh. See slides for further details.
The Heathrow 2.0 sustainability strategy is being updated because of a significantly changed world, constrained resources, and feedback on the previous plan. The aims of the update are to keep a robust sustainability plan, protect today’s operation and future expansion and adapt to the reality of fewer people and less money in the short term.
Becky ran through the framework of a simplified two pillar approach – net- zero aviation and a great place to live and work.
5. Board Member Updates
Tony Caccavone gave an update on HAL’s airport and surface access performance. See slides for further details. Key points include:
- Heathrow’s recovery to date is behind other European hub airports due to tighter restrictions.
- Demand is starting to return but is still much lower than 2019. We saw about 20m passengers in 2021 compared to almost 81m passengers in 2019.
- Terminal Drop Off Charge successfully implemented on 1st November across terminals 2, 3 and 5 departure forecourts – no major issues to report.
- Passenger public transport mode share continued its recovery, reaching 34% in October.Joanna Grew provided a Network Rail update. The leisure market is strong, particularly in the South West and London, but the commuter market remains weak. Passenger numbers are at around 70%, with around about 95% of services operating. Lots of works planned over the Christmas period. Western Rail not mentioned in Comprehensive Spending Review or in the Final report of the Union Connectivity Review. It was agreed that HATF would write a letter to the Secretary of State for transport to request that his repsonse to the Union Connectivity Review consider again the case for infrastructure investment spend around the airport and specifically Western RailAlan Tilly provided a LB Hillingdon update. They have bid for £2.3m of active travel funding from TfL and are awaiting outcome.
6. AOB
None