Representation by Anne Pearl Zeall
- Date submitted
- 23 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. Not only will the existing emeregency runway will need to be moved / rebuilt but there is a major raft of additional infrastructure proposed including new taxiways, roads, car parks, hotels and office space. Increase in aircraft noise – evidence an additional 101,000 flights a year to a cap of 386,000. Local residents atre already plagued by aircraft noise from Gatwick, which is unbearable at times. Night flights at Gatwick need to be banned. Lack of affordable housing locally to enable workers to walk or cycle to work as the applicant proposes. And lack of amenities. It is already the case that Gatwick Airport sucks in workers from outlying areas many of whom drive to get to the airport because of unsocial shift times. This adds to pollution in the area. Local areas are already over developed with housing leading to a severe deteriotion in living standards for existing residents. Low skilled jobs are offered with little job security due to the volatile nature of the airport’s leisure business. The claim by Gatwick Airport Ltd. on the number of new jobs that will be created by G2 needs to be treated with scepticism as the airport is already fully embarked on a programme of job automation. Local politicians in the surrounding area have, at long last, recognised the futility of depending exclusively on Gatwick Airport for future employment when it is so prone to circumstances outside of its control - just look at the impact of Covid on the airport's employment. Gatwick sits on a single main road, the M23 which is deemed an unsafe smart motorway. Hardly a week goes by when traffic to and from the airport is not impacted by collisions and closures on the M23. Other road traffic links to the airport are inadequate 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. Commuters hoping to use Gatwick are already discouraged by sky high parking costs imposed by the airport. We face a climate emergency, and a new runway would add a significant amount of carbon and greenhouse gases. It is unacceptable that the government is even prepared to consider allowing G2 at a time it is attempting to railroad its push for carbon neutrality and seems prepared to overlook the negative impact of the aviation industry at the same time as it relentlessly pursues homeowners and car drivers for carbon savings