Representation by Carol Lovegrove
- Date submitted
- 28 September 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Our small rural village in an AONB and SSSI is already blighted by noise and pollution from a concentrated arrivals path for aircraft into Gatwick. Day and night, there are periods when the noise is constant; as the sound of one plane fades, the next starts to arrive. The enjoyment of our homes and neighbourhood is affected. Sleep is regularly interrupted or impossible. The increase in flights proposed will make life completely intolerable, and (as has been shown) will increase the negative impact on health and wellbeing of those overflown. Regionally, such a huge increase in numbers will overburden already struggling infrastructure, and further increase pollution. On a global level, we are in a climate crisis. Air travel should be reduced, not increased. I understand that it has been estimated that the Gatwick expansion could result in an extra 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 each year. This is surely incompatible with the UK climate targets, as well as being morally wrong.