Representation by Hubertina Frencken
- Date submitted
- 3 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Freight traffic movements to and from Manston Airport
It should not be necessary to point out that Thanet is to all intents and purposes an isle with limited road access. The Isle of Thanet is served by only three main access roads, A28, A299 and the A256. Of these three only A253 and A299 access the airport directly.
As the United Kingdom is shortly to leave the European Union, the government has already informed us to be prepared for major disruption to traffic in East Kent, particularly around Dover. This disruption has no time limit and could stretch long into the future. Under such uncertainty the A256 will cease to be viable route out of Thanet, leaving the A299 as the only major access road to the airport. There simply is no alternative route.
Is there an alternative or secondary route to access the airport planned? Has RSP taken steps to instigate special measures regarding the shipment of dangerous cargos like aviation fuel? If so will this route run through the villages? Will they be using the B2050, B2190 road system?
The existing road network around the airport is far from adequate at the present moment and has been designed to restrict traffic and impede HGV's. Though RSP do mention upgrading the roads (RSP report points 8.21/8.22/8.23) they leave one with the impression that this part of development will be funded not by RSP but by the taxpayer via Kent County Council and the Highways Agency.
Taking the lowest RSP figures into account (17,000 flight movements per annum, which is equal to approximately 46 flights every 24 hours) would be delivering to Manston each day a payload ranging from 115 tonnes at the very lower end (Boeing 737-300 weight max. 2,250 kilos) to a high of 4,370 tonnes (Boeing 747F weight max. 95,250 kilos). As most air cargo arrives in passenger planes it is doubtful if the airport would be handling a steady flow of light shipments in the Boeing 737-300 class. Lowest RSP figure is 10,000 movements.
Exclusive airfreight hubs exist to handle heavy goods shipments and therefore it is more than likely that the airport would be handling anywhere between 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes per day assuming that it is a viable commercial venture. At the low end this would entail on the road activity of between 80 to 120 HGV's. While the higher and more realistic figure would entail on the road activity of between 120 to 166 HGV's assuming of course that each freight shipper was leaving with a full load. As this is a highly unlikely scenario the true figure for HGV activity in and out of Manston in any 24 hour period would be in the region of 400 to 500 HGV movements, not including aviation fuel tankers.
With such heavy road activity it is obvious that serious environmental and health issues, along with the potential for a major incident arise here. These issues however would not normally affect any inland airport but as we are surround by sea on three sides there is no realistic alternative to the limited existing road system. As the airport was not built for any purpose beyond that required by the military such problems have not arisen in the past nor have they been examined. I believe that RSP have not presented a credible answer to the road congestion and fuel supply situation nor will they be able to.