Representation by Max Houghton
- Date submitted
- 18 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Manston Airport should be brought back into operational service because: It is a national strategic asset that can complement London Gatwick and London Heathrow operations. In its own right it could start off as a freight hub but, over time, there will be pressure to bring commercial/passenger flights into Thanet and I suspect that there will be the demand to develop the airport rapidly into an attractive alternative to Gatwick and Stanstead. It will bring jobs to an area of the country in dire need of high grade posts and staff. It will open up Thanet to greater commercial activity that in turn will drive further infrastructure requirements including housing, roads, rail, schools, medical, police and fire and rescue support etc. thus helping to relieve the pressure on Greater London authorities to find jobs and housing.
Manston Airport should be viewed as a national strategic asset that would provide an operational air communications hub in an area of limited high grade employment.
Thanet is an isle desperate for good quality jobs and by getting Manston up and operational, initially for freight transport but in due course passenger flights. These flights would offer a much needed economic stimulus and act as a magnet not just for air related business but all those complementary support services ranging from new housing to improved road and rail links to medical, dental and schooling enhancements.
The knock on effect of these requirements would result in an enormous boost for both the social and economic life of those in Thanet by drawing in new people from across the UK and potentially relieving pressure on housing and jobs in Greater London.
The reopening of Manston coupled with other major infrastructure projects (e.g Ramsgate Port) would provides a one off opportunity to boost the quality of life across Thanet and maintain a strategic asset and should be grasped with both hands.
Max Houghton