Back to list Manston Airport

Representation by Kent Mathews

Date submitted
7 October 2018
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. Viability. RSP have no experience running an airport. Many studies have been commissioned all of which concluded it was not economically viable. Its failure will leave a further blight on a town already been ruined by its attempt. Furthermore a £500'000 figure to cover blight claims is unrealistic. In consultation meetings RSP have promised compensation for negative effects on property prices as a result of the airport. If every house on mu street claimed just £10 000, it would exceed this figure. Furthermore the CPO value set at £7.5 million is also unrealistic and does not take into consideration the lands plans to be developed for housing and sports facilities by the current owners.
  2. Safety. This has not been taken seriously. Take off of old cargo planes over a densely populated town, previous airlines to use Manston, Meridian and KAM are no longer allowed in UK airspace. Manston is not connected to the CLH pipeline and will mean all fuel will have to arrive by road and being on a peninsular the Thanet towns of Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate and surrounding villages all use the one way in and out via the A299. The cargo traffic along with 50-60 fuel tankers every 24 hours in an accident waiting to happen, especially on the smaller roads in the area, which are already congested. The increased terror threat needs to be properly addressed too.
  3. Noise. Effecting community and schools. The flight path goes right over the Royal Harbour and old town centre. There are 3 schools in the direct flight path, and the proposal of night flights will disrupt the sleep of residents and will have adverse effects mental health. When Manston was operational SEL reading on top of Chatham House Grammar school consistently recorded reading above 90db, 10 000 aircraft would cause hearing loss and make teaching impossible. The Munich airport study highlights the effects on children's education, with proven reduction in memory, performance and reading skills. Ramsgate is a town full of young families; attracted by affordable houses, clean sea air, good schools and a quiet lifestyle. This would all change and people and families like myself would be forced to move. Many of the houses in the flight path are listed buildings and would be very expensive to sound proof if possible at all. Ramsgate is a massive heritage site, with more Georgian houses than Bath and relies on this status for its increasing economic recovery via tourism. Official data from when Manston was operational shows Ramsgate to experience sound levels in excess of 60 db. and this doesn’t even take into account the plans to welcome QC4 rated planes, which often exceed 100 db. Additional to the noise is also the damage on the Historic buildings from Vibration and on public health from air particulate pollution. These factors would make Ramsgate a hideous place to live, everyone who could afford to leave will leave and the town will become a ghetto with a failing airport.