Representation by Transport Working Group of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum (Transport Working Group of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum)
- Date submitted
- 17 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
The Transport Working Group of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Town Forum opposes Gatwick Airports plans for expansion and a second runway. We support the Kent County Council’s position as follows: “Kent County Council’s (KCC) position on the project remains in line with our existing Policy on Gatwick Airport, which was adopted by Cabinet in December 2014. The policy explicitly states that KCC opposes a second runway at Gatwick. Whilst at the time, this was in response to the Airports Commission and the proposals for a newly constructed and independently operated second runway, we consider these latest proposals to routinely use the northern runway as a way for Gatwick to become a two-runway airport by another means. Therefore, KCC continues to strongly oppose the proposals to bring the existing northern runway into routine use. Our concerns focus mainly on the: • intensification of the main runway • noise of overflying aircraft • carbon emissions • lack of efficient rail and public transport connections to Kent. Growth at Gatwick will have a huge adverse environmental effect on our communities and countryside. There would be a significant increase aircraft numbers and resultant aircraft noise both for those living near the airport and for those further away under flight paths.” Tunbridge Wells, the largest urban area in West Kent, is frequently overflown now by aircraft on their landing trajectory day and night and this already causes disturbance and nuisance.