Representation by Elaine Lodge-Pritchard
- Date submitted
- 6 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly support this Development Consent Application by RiverOak Strategic Partners Ltd.
I am satisfied that this Project will positively impact upon the exceptionally high levels of deprivation and high unemployment that has afflicted Thanet for many years.
No other infrastructure project in Thanet has ever involved such a high level of inward commercial investment or been such a nationally significant infrastructure project.
I find the socio-economic impact report by [Redacted] that underpins the Applicant's business plan very persuasive and well-supported by evidence.
The Applicant's plans to focus their business plan upon cargo freight rather than passenger services will require far fewer air traffic movements to achieve viability and profitability than any alternative that relies primarily upon passenger services. I am persuaded that the Applicant's business plan is well-founded and realistic.
I strongly applaud the Applicant's determination to train and employ as many local people from Thanet and East Kent as possible. Engaging with the local community, schools, colleges and universities in this way will be transformative in terms of the aspirations and prospects of local young people, the unemployed, the under-employed and indeed anyone else who may otherwise seek to gain employment and skills that will be of service to the Airport operator, suppliers, airlines and other service providers.
I am impressed by assurances that RiverOak will provide financial support for the education and training of candidates for employment at the airport. This in itself will help raise the prospects for job seekers who may otherwise see no realistic prospects of long-term or lucrative employment.
I am appreciative of the fact that the Applicant's business plan does not involve significantly high increases in heavy goods vehicle movements, and indeed I am fully aware that this is likely to increase hgv movements by more than about 0.5% per year on our highways, and at that rate it is statistically insignificant.
In supporting this Application I write as someone who once lived directly under the flightpath of Manston Airport as a school child when the airport was a very active military base and for several decades as an adult while the airport was operated commercially. At no time was that problematical from a noise or pollution point of view, in my experience, and it is clear that given the great reductions in the levels of noise and pollution associated with modern aircraft that will not be a problem when the airport is redeveloped and operated in accordance with the Applicant's plans.