Representation by Linda James
- Date submitted
- 3 September 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The Isle of Thanet is one of the poorest parts of the South East. Unemployment is high with opportunities for the population very low? The airport has always been important to the people of Thanet’s prosperity. It was given to the RAF with covenants that its use was for the country. It was in effect our land given for the protection of us.
I would like Manston Airport reopened as a Cargo Hub/passenger flights
• To be a successful and prosperous airport for those people on Thanet that have retained that belief for more than 100 years.
• For the South East who can only benefit from having an infrastructure that can relieve London Airports under pressure.
• For the employment and education opportunities that would be open to this part of the South East who have not up until now truly benefited from any prosperity south of London. With this type of opportunity there are more ancillary and local opportunities afforded to the population, along with an increase in tourism from passenger flights that would work with the cruise liners now being increased from a renovated western Docks at Dover.
• For the health and wellbeing that would be enhanced from a variety of good well-paid employment and education opportunities badly needed on the Isle of Thanet. The UK will also benefit from a freight Hub based in the South East. Goods, especially fresh foods, will be able to be distributed more frequently and moved about the South East more efficiently, as will exported goods to the continent and further afield, offering a quick professional service, which had been the case before the Airport was closed. Having passenger airlines can only benefit those living in the South East, giving more travel opportunities and alleviating crowded London Airports.
The Isle of Thanet has several elements that make Manston Airport a national asset.
• An Airport with infrastructure and potential to land and take off any size aircraft.
• A road system that can access the airport without going near towns, that goes directly to London, Medway and is near Dover.
• Has a fast rail link to St Pancras Station, with plans and money set aside for a new station to service the airport.
• Discovery Park with enterprise Zone status.
• It also has a port, The Royal Harbour of Ramsgate, that with good management has immense potential with good road links to the airport and major roads that go to the rest of the South East and the UK.
• A constant support of 80% of Thanet behind this development is an important asset of the Isle of Thanet, they understand the prosperity that such a development can bring to this area. Thanet now has excellent transport links and mechanisms that the South East desperately need if London airports are to be alleviated. There is nowhere else that offers this without major disruption to the environment and its localities and for the least costs involved.
Manston Airport is part of the future as well as the past.