Representation by Patrick Murray
- Date submitted
- 3 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I oppose granting a DCO for a Freight Hub at Manston because of the unconvincing assessment of the applicant of the economic benefits from the proposed freight hub compared to the proven benefits of existing and growing recreational, tourism benefits in the surrounding area.
The applicant, RSP, sets out figures within their submission without providing anything of substance to support their assertions that the site is a site of national significance; the requirement for a DCO. Contrary to these assertions, There have been four reports from credible aviation experts, Falcon Consultancy July 2014, Avia Solutions August 2017, Altitude Aviations January 2018 York Aviation November 2017 (which also discredited the only favourable report by[Redacted]of Azimuth Associates) showing that a commercial airport at Manston is both unviable and unnecessary.
RSP have no experience of running a freight hub of the scale proposed in the submission. The history of the individuals involved in the bid suggests that their motivation is to acquire the site rather than create a freight hub. Failure of the freight hub would result in the loss of any economic and employment benefits never being realised.
In contrast to this, the current owners of the site at Manston, who have a proven track record of delivering with such developments both locally and at another site in the UK, have an application submitted to TDC for an extensive development which includes 4,000 houses, a school, medical centre, community centre, a country park, a sports’ village, as well as an advanced manufacturing High Tech Business Park which would not only provide much needed homes, including social housing, but give a real prospect for much needed jobs in the area.