Representation by Sean Lehan
- Date submitted
- 8 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am writing on behalf of my wife and myself to strongly oppose the planning application of RiverOak Strategic Partners to open Manston Airport as an 24/7 cargo hub airport. My wife and i moved from Portsmouth to quiet and beautiful Thanet (Ramsgate) 9 years ago. Firstly, since then we have noticed and seen many pockets and areas of the area improve and thrive, both in business, leisure pleasure and wildlife. A 24/7 hub airport would drastically have an impact on this with the noise and air pollution, health, well-being and sleep disturbance. As i say this WILL have an affect on businesses visitors that come here and the tourists which WILL move away and stop coming. It WILL KILL THANET! Secondly, there is no need for a Freight Hub at Manston as The DfT advocates no growth in air freight. Thirdly, the case of the economy that it will bring jobs to the area has been greatly exaggerated. I worked at Heathrow and Gatwick for many years and you only need a dozen or so to handle a cargo flight on a shift work pattern. This includes Tower and Security and these will be split shifts and/or zero hour contracts. Many if not all jobs WILL go to many people OUTSIDE Thanet! Fourthly, i am very concerned about the lack of road infrastructure for the supply to the airport with heavy goods vehicles and constant FUEL Tankers, anything up to 50-60 tankers every 24 hours to supply the 17000 VERY large aircraft that they want to use, using the already well used and congested roads , not motorways, leading into Thanet!!! THERE WILL be a serious and catastrophic incident involving one of these many Fuel tankers. As there was on the M20 motorway on 10/9/18 when a Fuel tanker hit the centre barrier and burst into flames....gridlock for many hours!!! Fourthly, we are very worried and concerned on the environment and human impact on the area with the increase of N0s2, N0x and Carbon Monoxide pollution from all the many aircraft's and vehicles that will be involved with the Airport. Which do cause and have been linked to lung cancer, asthma and cardiovascular illness. Also the very worrying concern it will have on the surrounding wildlife. This is why i am asking/telling you to get experts in for the Habitat and Wildlife for this application.