Representation by Sara Mcguigan
- Date submitted
- 16 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I moved to Ramsgate in 2000 from London to escape the noise and pollution to bring up my children. The town has been an idyllic and peaceful place to do this not withstanding my memories of the cargo flights to Manston. I arrived, with my first child when she was 2 weeks old. I was originally attracted by the beach, the stunning architecture of the town, the affordability of character houses and the feeling of potential that the town emanated. I have seen the fortunes of the town fluctuate with those of the Nation as well as local developments such as Westwood Cross Shopping Centre, which seemed to bleed the local economy dry for many years after opening. I have seen a steady flow of people choose Ramsgate over the cities, for similar reasons to me but never so much talent, creativity and money from London as in recent years. The long awaited regeneration of the town is finally happening, similar to its neighbouring Margate.
Ramsgate’s regeneration will die a certain death, if cargo flights are reintroduced to Manston Airport, I have no doubt of that. The tranquillity, beauty and lure of the town would be eclipsed by the low flying, thunderous beasts that I recall from my early years in the town. I recollect being woken at night by these monsters, which flouted the night time ban, shaking the very fabric of my house in the centre of the town like earthquakes, my baby staying awake, crying for a long time after the initial shock. I recall visiting friends, full of admiration for the town until one of these weighty giants thundered overhead, all conversation stopped, jaws dropped, heads turned up in horror for the duration of its passing and then again for its roaring landing so close by.
Whenever a cargo plane’s wheels skimmed the town’s roofs, all conversation, daily activities, teaching and working used to pause for the duration of its passing and then again for its landing. This was only sufferable due to their infrequency and final disappearance altogether. Cargo flights’ return, and in the quantities suggested by the owners of the site, is an unimaginable nightmare scenario for Ramsgate and the quality of people’s lives.
I have worked in schools and colleges since I moved to Ramsgate and now work from home doing educational assessments. Cargo flights pose a threat to the education of the town’s children under the flight path and I can’t envisage continuing my work, which involves the administration of tests in a quiet and undisturbed environment.
Apart from cargo flights blighting the local economy, the nature of the country’s future trade seems uncertain with Brexit, I have heard that other airports in the country are not filling their cargo capacity and the ‘Local Plan’ for housing and business seems a far greater option for local community and the Nation as a whole.
Please don’t allow cargo and night flights back into Manston.