Representation by Christina Usher
- Date submitted
- 17 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I oppose this Gatwick Airport application for a northern runway because it is a new runway – • Policy has been misinterpreted by the applicant as this is an applicant for a new runway which does not comply with policy, Government’s Aviation Strategy. Gatwick does not have 2 runways that it can operate concurrently today as such it is a new runway being constructed. • Increase in aircraft noise – evidence an additional 101,000 flights a year to a cap of 386,000. • Lack of affordable housing locally to enable workers to walk or cycle to work as the applicant proposes. And lack of amenities. • Low skilled jobs are offered with little job security due to the volatile nature of the airport’s leisure business. • Gatwick sits on a single main road, the M23 which is deemed an unsafe smart road. To add to the huge increase in freight, passengers and workers will cause a significant increase in congestion on residential roads and an inevitable decline in air quality. • The airport sits on the Brighton Main Line, which can’t be expanded. Gatwick seeks to add an unacceptable burden to the line with over 32m extra passengers. • We face a climate emergency, and a new runway would add a significant amount of carbon and greenhouse gases – Evidence CCC (2020) The Sixth Carbon Budget – Methodology Report. Available at: www.theccc.org.uk . The air and noise pollution is already a threat to mental and physical health of the residents who are flown over from Gatwick (& Heathrow) aircraft. The pollution has contributed, nay CAUSED me to suffer (redacted) and (redacted), as well as (redacted). We cannot take anymore of this pollution. A new runway will impact negatively on our natural environment and the wildlife that inhabits the area. In every way this plan for Gatwick expansion/a new runway is a disaster for everyone. The South East is already massively over crowded and under enormous stress. Please do not allow this to go ahead. You should be reducing airports, flights and discouraging air travel, not encouraging it. We demand you act responsibly and listen to us, the people who put our trust in you. NO MORE AIRPORT EXPANSION - ANYWHERE.