Representation by Sam Causer
- Date submitted
- 8 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to a cargo hub at Manston. There are many reasons why this is the wrong place for an airport, from both a national and local point of view:
Siting an airport on a peninsula significantly increases the miles freight needs to travel to and from it as it all has to come from one direction only (from the west). Airports should be sited in places that serve a 360 degree radial community, not a 36 degree community to reduce journey distances.
The flight path is directly over a slowly reviving tourist area, recently designated a Heritage Action Zone. In historic terms, the airport is young compared with the development of Ramsgate and the wider context of Thanet. Noisy, polluting, low-flying aircraft is not compatible with a beautiful tourist town. What cost to local residents and businesses would this blight cause?
The freight will in any case be brought in somehow it is not as though more freight will be brought in/out if Manston opens, so there can be no increase to economy as a result of an additional airport.
I am deeply concerned about the reduction in air quality that would result in the wider East Kent area.
Airports use a vast amount of land which could be better used for homes, recreation and w whole variety of businesses.
The transport infrastructure of the area would suffer with an increase in freight and associated traffic serving an airport, all for the benefit of companies far, far away. What benefit to the local economy for this extra burden on our roads? We need local jobs in local businesses, where the money remains local.
Manston is a great site for a diverse new town, with beautiful beaches, countryside and good train network within easy reach. Don't waste this opportunity by instead inflicting pollution, noise and low-quality packing jobs on a reviving tourist destination.