Representation by Mums against Manston Airport (Mums against Manston Airport)
- Date submitted
- 5 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
RSP’s plans for the re-opening of Manston as a Freight Hub are of gravest concern. Their consultation arrangements created a sense of distrust for many of us. We ask that PINS conduct a full and though investigation into the real impact that noise and air pollution will have on the town and residents of Ramsgate.
Ramsgate is currently thriving and is a great place to live. We have recently seen new businesses flourish, tourism increase, old properties renovated and a vibrant and varied community develop. Many of us chose to live here for the fresh sea air and relative peace and quiet of a small coastal town.
Our library, parks, allotments, the beach, nurseries and schools provide great places for learning and leisure, however each of these places, including many of our own homes, lie on or very close to the flight path and would be subjected to intolerably loud and relentless noise should this DCO be awarded. DCO 5.1/ 4.1.46 “....significant adverse effects have been identified as being likely as a result of an increase in noise..” and 4.1.47 “aircraft noise would increase to the point where there would be a perceived change in the quality of life for occupants.... “.
Manston’s runway is in exceptionally close proximity to Ramsgate (approximately 1.3km and not the 4km RiverOak state) and aircraft coming in to land are therefore flying extremely low over the town.
Whilst acknowledging in their 2018 Consultation Doc12.9.68 that “..... a large number of dwellings ....are subject to moderate or major adverse impacts,” in the DCO 5.1 /4.1.44, RSP have contradicted or underestimated this, citing a maximum of 225 homes as potentially being ”exposed to significant annoyance, disturbance and sleep disturbance.” These few homes may well be offered noise insulation but whether this would be effective given the age of buildings, or adequate for many hundreds if not thousands of homes actually exposed to such levels, is another matter. Even with insulation, are people really just expected to keep their windows shut and stay indoors?
We know from experience just how intrusive and oppressive the noise really is. RSP’s predicted high number and frequency of flights will make living and working here, nothing less than a nightmare. There appears to be an acoustic anomaly in the town itself, which we urge you to investigate. The noise level appears to be significantly worse than that on the higher, flatter areas closer to Manston. The shape of the land, coupled with the density of tall, tightly packed buildings seems to funnel and intensify to sound to unbearable levels. Continuing a telephone conversation or speaking to someone face to face as a plane passes was often impossible.
In our schools, the level of disruption would be catastrophic to the teaching and learning as well as the whole school environment e.g. sitting exams, break times, outdoor and sports activities. Teachers at various schools reported having to stop lessons and wait for planes to pass before continuing and one parent recalls collecting her children from their primary school after planes had been practising all day. The staff were exhausted and frustrated by the constant noise and interruption and the children were tired and stressed. Can you really allow this to become’ the norm’? RSP’s Noise Mitigation document (11.1) states that they will monitor noise at 6.5km from start of take off. Do they realise that this point is approximately 2.5km out at sea where planes will be at a much higher altitude above only open space?
When the airport was last open and occasional night flights were permitted, many households found that the noise would wake every member of the family (and leave dogs barking!), not just with the horrific and intolerable screech of the plane passing overhead, but also for the minute or so as it approached and ‘reverse thrust’ of the engines as it landed. Often sleeping in top floor rooms, children would wake, completely disorientated and terrified by the overwhelmingly intense noise that saturated their rooms. Interrupted and poor quality sleep is known to have a hugely negative effect on health, ability to learn and well being. The Independent (4/2/16) “Recent research shows that road traffic and aircraft noise increase the risk of high blood pressure, especially noise exposure at night.”
[Redacted], (Executive Headteacher of Coastal Academies Trust) told a recent public meeting that he was heartbroken at the prospect of Ramsgate’s children having their sleep disturbed. He stated that he was certain that it will effect their education. And if it effects their education it will effect their life choices. He is said “I shudder to think what will happen to this school (Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School) in the flight path with a listed building and single pane windows.”
It is well documented that air pollution is also highly detrimental to health and recent studies show that it also causes a significant reduction in IQ. CNN (28th Aug 2018), “prolonged exposure to dirty air has a significant impact on our cognitive abilities.” Of equal concern is that scientists have found that “particles of air pollution travel through pregnant women’s lungs and lodge in their placentas”. (16/9/18 - The Guardian)
Those of us who have lived near to Manston for much of our lives have seen aviation companies come and go. Not one has ever found it to be a sustainable venture. How can RSP be any different when the central location and road access that such a freight ‘hub’ requires cannot be provided by the site at Manston? Perhaps it’s time to realise this land’s potential, as something other than an airport.
Isn’t the health and quality of life of so many people worth more than the business interests of this private company?
I do have all of the names and addresses of our members if needed.