Representation by David Murray
- Date submitted
- 23 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I object to Gatwick Airports application to expand. Aircraft noise & pollution benefits no one, and should be avoided. The additional road traffic cannot be adequately catered for without significant and permanent damage to the surrounding area where the roadways & infrastructure are already at breaking point. The motorways serving Gatwick, I.e., the M23 & M25 are notorious for traffic congestion and the alternative A roads are wholly inadequate for any increase in vehicle numbers. Gatwick’s overall case does not comply with the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) which requires airports (other than Heathrow) that are seeking to expand to demonstrate sufficient need for their proposals, additional to (or different from) the need which would be met by the provision of a Northwest Runway at Heathrow. Gatwick predominantly serves the leisure market and to combat climate change the leisure market has to change. It is unviable to restrict cargo & business air travel if the UK economy is to grow (as it must) but the leisure market can & must change. The South East suffers from severe congestion and even greater pressure will result from the necessary and unavoidable increase in housing stock which is essential to provide affordable homes, but that can be managed with improvements to public transport. However, increases in air traffic and associated road traffic of the scale planned by expansion at Gatwick is not essential and can and must be be curtailed.