Representation by Sandra Brown
- Date submitted
- 22 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The proposed expansion of Gatwick will have a hugely detrimental environmental effect on the local area. The existing infrastructure already struggles to cope. The local road network is over congested and physically crumbling. The local councils do not have the resources to keep on top of the repairs now. An increase of traffic to the area would have a disastrous effect on the already poor conditions of the roads. There is a very high level of employment in the area. There is not the need to increase employment opportunities. Expansion would surely require the airport having to attract more people to the area to staff both the expanded airport and local business that service it. The area is already overpopulated with a well recorded lack of housing. Every bit of land is being utilised to try accommodated the existing population. This in turn is draining the local environmental resources increasing local pollution. The local river is already polluted by sewage and has high levels of phosphates. An expanded airport and expanded population will only make this situation worse. It is an area of low rain fall and regular drought conditions. The local water authorities already struggle to cope with the demand to provide clean water and deal with sewage. The change in climate is causing increased temperatures and droughts and in turn increasing the incidents of torrential rain fall. The dry local ground can not absorb the water causing local flooding. Building on the areas around Gatwick that provide a natural soak away is only going to increase local flooding creating misery to local residents and travel chaos to those trying to use the airport. The Local GPs, Hospitals, dentists are full to capacity and would not be able to provide adequate health care to yet more people moving to the area. The expansion would mean the loss of the Riverside Park area in Horley. This is highly valuable area providing sanctuary to local wildlife with woodland, a small lake and a river. Wildfowl returns to the lake year after year to nest and rear their young. This area is much loved and much used by local residents. Dog walkers, young families, children and fishermen of all ages use it for recreation and exercise on a daily basis. Myself and many Horley residents use it as an enjoyable traffic free route to walk or cycle too work. This is greatly beneficial to residents mental and physical health and means that a great many people are traveling to work in a sustainable manner. Something the government is urging the population to do. What do you think is better for peoples health and the environment. Cycling to work down a riverside track through a gaggle of goslings or sitting stressed out in a traffic jam on a congested road. The East and South East of England already has Luton Airport, Stansted Airport, City Airport and Heathrow. There is no justification to expand Gatwick inflicting misery to the local residents, many of which live under a mile from the boundary of the airport. The increase in traffic pollution, noise pollution, light pollution, air pollution, water pollution, refuse pollution and human pollution will be simply intolerable to both the human and wildlife population. It is also surely in complete conflict to the governments commitment to combat climate change.