Representation by Pew Property (rental) Ltd (Pew Property (rental) Ltd)
- Date submitted
- 20 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Business Plan In RSP’s justification for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) they state they intend to provide an airport which, by year 20, will achieve 17170 Air traffic movements (ATMs) or 8585 planes landing and taking off, and to achieve 10000 ATMs or 5000 aircraft by year 7. However nowhere that I can see do they make a serious effort to justify where this level of business will be coming from and how they will be competing with the other main players Heathrow, Stanstead and East Midlands? For 15 years the level of airfreight to the UK has remained static at 2.3 Million Tonnes bar a small drop in 2009 however the study of the individual airports show that belly hold freight has been increasing to the detriment of air freighters. E.g. Heathrow has increased its total amount of freight handled by 17.5%. From 2006 to 2016 the total freight handled in the UK has increased by a paltry 2.58% (1.31 Million tonnes to 1.54 Million tonnes) however East Midlands by only 9% and Stanstead by 9.5%. Obviously with these taking more of a share other airports have gone backwards, Gatwick for instance has lost 50% of its airfreight business in the last 10 years. RSP have confirmed the market they are looking at is the freighter market (not belly hold) and that leaves them trying compete with both Stanstead and East Midlands, both confirm they have spare capacity and are fully established in this niche market. Further the trend is away from freighters for cargo (to belly hold) as the Department of Transport (DFT) show in their figures. Around the year 2000 there were over 100,000 freighter ATMs however by 2015 that had halved to under 55000 ATMs. The DFT acknowledge by 2030 this may increase to 60000 ATMs. So we ask again in a static market (both levels of freight and airfreight transports) where is Manston going to attract any ATMs let alone 10000? Justification for NSIP We would like the Tribunal to ask RSP why they haven’t considered any of the surplus airfields in the middle of the country. For instance both Mildenhall and Lakenheath are looking for buyers and have far better motorway connections without a town of 40000 inhabitants at the end of the runway. Environment RSP confirm within their documents that the effect of noise and pollution would have an adverse effect on the residents of Thanet “12.7.72 Considering the impact is permanent and a large number of dwellings…………….significant adverse effects…….Ramsgate, Manston, Wade and West Stourmouth” One has to consider that the possible benefit to the Community at large is outweighed by the detrimental effect on the Residents in the above towns. Further there is a potential environmental risk being glossed over, one is the volume of heavy goods and Fuel bowser vehicles proposed along the Thanet Way daily. Apologies in advance but 500 words limit wasn’t sufficient: We had further questions as follows 1. Why would the Planning Inspectorate grant a DCO to a UK shell Company with control hidden in the Belizean Tax Haven, and especially one that is depending on raising the finance AFTER the DCO is granted? (RSP seem not to have any income unlike many infrastructure companies) 2. Without a cap on ATMs why hasn’t RSP considered a Public Safety Zone (PSZ) at each end of the runway? 3. It seems from the submission that the Northern Grass zone isn’t needed as it isn’t fundamental to the operation of a cargo hub so why is it included in the CPO powers ask for? 4. Why are the (only) two noise monitors positioned 6.5km from the runway (placing the Ramsgate one in the sea) when Central Ramsgate is 3.2KM from the runway? 5. Why have RSP reversed the conventional wisdom of landing and taking off INTO the wind? 20 years of commercial aircraft flying dictates the predominant wind is from the South West over the UK which would mean that 70% of cargo flights would overfly Ramsgate on landing and take-off over Herne Bay. 6. How have RSP come to the conclusion that the Manston site is worth £7.5M when “In Spring 2006 Kent County Council acquired the undeveloped area of Manston Business Park, amounting to some 40 acres of developable land, from the Administrator of Planestation plc for £5.35 million”? (KCC report on Manston dated 2014 available on request)