Representation by Francine Juliet Blythe
- Date submitted
- 23 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to the proposed second runway at Gatwick the noise from which will have a direct negative impact on my health and wellbeing as well as blighting the lives of generations to come through its contribution to climate change. I already endure relentless aircraft noise over Walters Green, Penshurst and Chiddingstone which has been increasing over the 23 years I have lived here. Planes coming into land fly overhead often every two minutes, whining, groaning and whistling and emitting huge quantities of greenhouse gases. I am angry that this level of intrusion and pollution is allowable. I understand that aircraft noise is unregulated and so no authority, not the airport itself, the Civil Aviation Authority, the local councils or central Government take responsibility. This highlights the absurdity of the planning restrictions in this area which protect the environment visually but have no jursdiction over the level of noise. The area is an AONB in the Green Belt and the buildings are largely listed and so the visual quality of the area is triple protected while the sound environment is not. In the summer you have to shout to be heard over the sound of the planes. A second runway will increase the level of unregulated noise that blights the lives of those of us living under the approach to the airport as well as the visitors and customers of the businesses in the area who come expecting a level of peace in this rural area. We are told there is an economic benefit for some if the runway is built but this comes at a price which will be paid by others. As a country we have developed an expectation of cheap air travel that seems to ignore its impact on the climate change and the environment. CO2 makes up 70 percent of aircraft emissions and stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. The proposed second runway, while perhaps logical 10 years ago now looks absurd, wildly out of kilter with current thinking and interventions like ULEZ and congestion charging. We must stop this now as it will be future generations who will pay the most for this short term profiteering.