Representation by Owen Minton
- Date submitted
- 7 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to register my strong opposition to the development of Manston as a cargo airport.
The business case is not properly thought out, it seems the only way the airport could be viable would be by ignoring guidelines regarding night flights and noise pollution, Even RSP admit this would be the case in their impact report. The effects to physical and mental health of noise pollution and disturbed sleep will create an array of social problems in an area that is already struggling to cope with the issues of deprivation.
Residents have not been properly informed of impact, with many supporters believing this will be a small airport with a few passenger flights (quiet planes, daytime flights and lots of jobs for local people), this is not the case. The amount of jobs created may be no more than by a mixed use site and will be negatively affected by the loss of jobs in tourism and creative industries that have begun to flourish in Ramsgate.
The effect on education and young people. My partner works in education and sees first-hand the effects of disturbed sleep on learning and behaviour, add to this the disruption to teaching in schools under the flight path - my own child was in one of the affected schools when the airport was last operational and teaching had to stop each time a plane went over. Young people in this area have enough to cope with just to attain national educational standards. The airport will have an adverse effect on their development and life chances.
Our local plan states that we must have a certain amount of housing. If this does not happen at the Manston site, it will have to take what is left of farm/green land in the centre of Thanet, which will create even higher levels of traffic congestion and pollution across all of Thanet.
Environmental concerns for wildlife, Pegwell salt marshes are recognised as rare and important habitats. Air pollution from air traffic affects a wide area, this and the increased road traffic connected with a freight operation will have a detrimental effect on this habitat
Effects on an area of architectural importance and Heritage. Pollution and turbulence adversely affect listed buildings and many listed buildings cannot undertake the soundproofing/glazing that would be necessary to cope with the noise. We should be promoting our heritage and encouraging tourism rather than putting it at risk and creating an environment no-one would wish to visit
I have lived here with and without an airport and have seen Ramsgate’s fortunes fluctuate, we at last seem to be starting to escape from 10 years of downturn through tourism and the arrival of various creative industries, this will in time bring a range of jobs and aspirations for our young people. We owe it to them not to destroy this with an airport at Manston and the related lowered quality of life.