Representation by Prof Ian Swingland
- Date submitted
- 3 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am the Emeritus Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of Kent and my family have lived in Kent for over 500 years. As the former Policy Advisor of the Countryside Alliance, former chair of a horticultural research council based at East Malling, and Patron of Hadlow College as well as many other responsibilities I am concerned that Manston remains as a functional air cargo and passenger facility to assist the growth of East Kent where commerce has been expanding at an ever accelerating rate and population density has doubled in 30 years. HS1 now services the extreme east of the county (Sandwich) and allows London workers to commute with ease. The advent of Manston Parkway will make Manston International Airport as accessible as both Heathrow and Gatwick from London and we need a major airport as travelling by train or car to existing major airports takes >2-3 hours and is fraught with frequent delays and tailbacks, missing flights. We need the employment that Manston Airport will bring as welfare dependency locally is high and alternative plans will not create many jobs in comparison. The advent of Brexit demands we have a fully functioning airport to help Kent which unlike much smaller regions have their own international airports with easy and quick reach - even Eastbourne! Many who bought their houses near Manston Airport because they were cheaper, knowing the noise made by aircraft which have got quieter, will of course object but they knew the situation when they moved! My father was Director, Procurement Executive, MOD many years ago and responsible for RAF Manston. He said (1990) that because of its size and location it was a vital lifeline to Europe and the world for the UK. Even more needed as we prepared for independent Britain in the near future.