Representation by Shirley A Large
- Date submitted
- 12 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Please don’t let this happen, we in Thanet are not just an Isle of old and socially low class people, but even if we were, are our lives any less valuable?
I was born in Ramsgate Hospital and grew up near Newington with the noise of airplanes occasionally. It was always disturbing but I had no choice. Night flights however were extremely rare so my sleep was good.
Now I am 54 and it’s been more than ten years now that I have been living in Nethercourt with aged parents. Nethercourt is right under the flightpath. It is not 4km away, it is 1.3km away and don’t I know it. I remember before the planes stopped after the last effort to revive the badly positioned airport. It was horrendous. The noise was such you could not be outside without covering your ears, the planes screamed overhead, so very close. I heard the whoosh after they had past and felt sometimes a light dusting of spray of what I can only assume was spent fuel. My parents vegetable garden had produce that when washed left a greasy film on the water. The windows were never clean. It was not pleasant at all and got us all down sometimes. However the worst part was if one came roaring over the house in the night.
To re-open Manston airport to cargo and night flights would be a death sentence for my parents. They would no longer be able to enjoy life just sitting in their garden. Sleep patterns would be ruined for all of us. Its not healthy. For me it would mean it would be hard to stay and look after them.
For the children of Ramsgate it would mean disturbed sleep, every single night!
I was lucky not to have that and it makes me sad that the next generation will lose out on sleep which can affect their health and education because of it. Please don’t let this happen.