Representation by Jessica Lauren
- Date submitted
- 6 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe that the re-opening of Manston Airport as a 24-hour cargo hub would be disastrous for not only Ramsgate, Herne Bay and the great number of people and businesses directly under the flight path but for Thanet and East Kent as a whole. The damage to the environment in terms of noise, air pollution and vibration directly from the aircraft would be substantial, RSP themselves admitting that ‘significant adverse effects have been identified as being likely as a result of an increase in noise’ for communities in Ramsgate and that ‘in these communities, aircraft noise would increase to the point where there would be a perceived change of quality of life for occupants of buildings or a perceived change in the acoustic character of shared open spaces within these communities’. Ramsgate, Margate, Thanet and East Kent in general are experiencing a new and positive regeneration partly due to an influx of new people, many from London like myself, who are bringing money into the local economy, starting businesses and wanting to see the area thrive again after a long period of difficulty (as of course do the longer term residents). The potential for the area in terms of its economic recovery through visitors (both temporary like tourism and more permanent like people such as myself) due to its natural beauty, beautiful beaches, historic buildings, thriving creative culture, communities and businesses, improved quality of life for individuals and families and much more would be severely threatened by the presence of the airport. The airport would need a road infrastructure to transport goods and fuel to and from Manston that is entirely inadequate for the purpose, resulting in congestion, disruption and more pollution throughout Kent and making it far more difficult for people like myself (I am a musician and have to travel for work to London and beyond) to be able to earn our livings. There are many other issues: the previous failures of Manston Airport to run as a going concern; the lack of demand for a cargo airport in the SE of England; the location of the site (surrounded by sea on three sides); the issues with the credibility of RSP themselves, the accuracy of the assessments and figures they quote in their application, the financial backing they claim to have etc. There is desperate need for housing both in the area and nationally and a compulsory requirement for many new houses to be built, for which Manston would be perfect. SHP (who own the land already) have plans for houses, schools, community centres, business and leisure facilities already in place, creating 4,000 potential jobs in the process, and enhancing the area and the local economy instead of severely damaging it as a 24-hour cargo airport would do.