Representation by Ralph Cade
- Date submitted
- 4 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I had the convenience and pleasure of using Manston Airport when it was open for domestic flights several years ago and air travel from this airport was so easy and convenient for the residents of Kent. I am bewildered as to why it is no longer being using for domestic flights when there is constant talk of extending Heathrow Airport with an additiional runway to meet the demand of air travel. Heathrow is not an ideal location as it is already an over populated area and difficult to reach from Kent/London and surrounding areas. I prefer to travel by train to the airport and for me to do this I have to use the fast train to go all the way into London (St Pancras) and then use the underground to travel to Heathrow which is crowded and takes well over an hour. It is a similar situation if i travel to Gatwick Airport. I do wonder why Government constantly dismisses Manston as a viable domestic airport when it could be easing traveller traffic in London. Why is it always Heathrow that needs another runway when we have one of the longest runways at Manston which is only an hours train journey from London? The addition of an extra train stop (or a fast link train from Ramsgate) would provide easy access to flights to Europe and more importantly much needed jobs for people living on the Kent Coast. I urge you to consider the viablility of opening up Manston Airport again for domestic flights by doing so it will create much needed employment, ease the roads (M25/M20) for car travellers going to Gatwick/Heathrow. In the current change to Brexit it will also ease Ferry Traffic at Dover which will inevitably become slower when new regulations are put into place. The reopening of Ramsgate Ferries to the continent may also be a viable option in the future.