Representation by Natasha Hobbins
- Date submitted
- 5 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am against the reopening of Manston Airport primarily as a cargo airport because I am a mother of a young son and genuinely worried about the pollution, both from the fuel and the noise that will be generated from up to the proposed 10,000 cargo planes a year.
My son’s school is school is directly under the planned flight-path and we live nearby. I am really concerned about this level of pollution being spread over his school, as well as all the other schools in Ramsgate, on a regular basis (RSP are predicating 14 arrivals and 14 departures a day), as well as the distraction of noise pollution during his school day and sleep disturbance at night.
I think, as well as being a distraction during their study, it could also have a negative impact on the mental health of the young people of Ramsgate. When my son first saw, and heard, a cargo plane, the noise was so loud and the plane so low, he thought the plane was going to crash and I had to reassure him otherwise. With very young children they may not have the vocabulary or language to vocalise this and for older children it may be an internalised worry.
Also, in my opinion, large cargo-planes flying low (coming into land at Manston) over the beaches of Ramsgate will have a detrimental effect on tourism in the area as well as other growing businesses, such as the creative industries. There has been a rise of creative people moving to the area, inspired by Ramsgate’s beautiful coastline and majestic sunsets as well as the affordability of studio/work space. Ramsgate needs these new, creative industries as they will have a positive effect on our town, promoting growth in tourism and the related service industries such as bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfasts, air b&b, tourist trips/tours. Creative industries also provide aspirational employment for Ramsgate’s young people. You only have to look at Margate to see the positive and exciting effects generated from The Turner Contemporary art gallery. I believe, having listened to many creative people in the area, they would quite simply move away, if the plan to re-open Manston airport was approved.
Finally, there is also the issue of increased road haulage from the Cargo-hub. The increased pollution levels will be detrimental to our countryside and its wildlife, damage to our roads over time and thus increasing maintenance, waiting haulage will be an eye-sore on the landscape as the surrounding area becomes a lorry-park as well as obviously increasing the congestion on the roads.