Representation by Martin Weller
- Date submitted
- 12 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
NEED The history of air freight operations at Manston is one of failure: failure to attract freight operators, resulting in economic failure and the loss of large sums of money. It is time to put failure behind us and grasp new opportunities for a more reliable future. Contrary to claims in the application, my understanding of recent studies is that there is no demand for a freight hub in this part of the UK. The evidence suggests that: The vast majority of freight travels by road for distances up to 500 Km Most air freight travels on passenger flights Spare capacity for dedicated freight planes is available at existing airports in the UK. If I am wrong and there does prove to be need, why build it at Manston? Without the accident of an old runway, surely this would never have been considered an appropriate location. It involves a dangerous landing path over the centre of the major tourist town of Ramsgate. NOISE, SAFETY AND THE TOURIST INDUSTRY I have been unfortunate enough to stand on top of the cliff at Ramsgate under the incoming flight path of a freight plane. The noise was horrendous. Ramsgate is so close to the end of the runway the flight approach is very low and planes skim the cliff top. In the predominant south-westerly wind the landing path would mostly be from the east over Ramsgate, but in any case planes landing from the south-west will impose similar noise levels on the residents of St Nicholas at Wade. My father-in-law lives under the landing path in St Nicholas at Wade and I have experienced similar ear-shattering noise levels there when planes land from that direction. The proposals include provision for noise mitigation for a small number of the worst affected residential freehold owners in Ramsgate. This seems totally inadequate. What about business premises? What about schools? What about the outdoor cafe culture and marine activity that have helped develop the tourist industry over the last few years? Noise mitigation measures would be of little help to a largely outdoor tourist industry. It may not be alarmist to think it could kill the tourist trade in Ramsgate altogether. Manston is a windy location throughout the year. To take one recent example: during the month of January 2018 a wind strength above 25 mph was recorded on 14 separate days at Manston. On 4 of those days it was recorded as “near gale”. [Source – Weather archive in Manston (airport) weather station [Redacted]]. At Ramsgate cliff top the wind strength is likely to be higher. The more extreme weather expected with climate change will add significantly to safety risks for Ramsgate as planes negotiate cliff-top wind turbulence. Many landing diversions to other airports could be expected. ALTERNATIVE USE The present land owners have very viable plans for the land. Land for new housing is urgently needed in Thanet. Use of part of this site for housing would reduce the need for alternative housing allocations on useful agricultural land. It would also save Thanet from the potential blight of yet another failed airport venture.