Representation by Graham Quinnell
- Date submitted
- 21 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
[Redacted], where I live is in a a quiet rural area of small villages but is under the Gatwick flight path. The noise of aircraft taking off and landing is more continuous now that strict take off and landing flight paths are adhered to. Gatwick air traffic is heavily based on holiday flights by UK residents to sunnier European destinations in the summer and ski resorts in winter months and especially so around school and public holidays. Landings at night during late summer near the start of the Autumn school term were almost continuous and I could hear another plane coming into land as the noise from the previous one diminished. If we, as a country, are to work towards minimising the effects of climate change, we need to reduce the amount of flying particularly for leisure purposes. The economic benefit of Gatwick will principally benefit the shareholders of Gatwick Airport Ltd, but will generate noise and air pollution, increase carbon emissions, put additional pressure on existing roads, housing stock, schools. The Government has already decided that if there is to be an additional runway in the South East, it will be at Heathrow, so there can be no justification for an additional runway at Gatwick.