Representation by Heather Rogers
- Date submitted
- 24 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I oppose Gatwick Airport’s application for a new, northern runway. I object because: - We are facing a climate emergency and should be working on every option to reduce CO2 emissions, including reducing the volume of flights. Limiting Gatwick to one runway would require operators to use that resource efficiently, while a second runway would obviously fuel further expansion of air travel, adding to the unsustainable burden on the planet. - Policy has been misinterpreted by the applicant as this is an application for a new runway which does not comply with policy, the Government’s Aviation Strategy. Gatwick does not currently have two runways that can operate concurrently, as such it is a new runway that is being constructed. • There will be an increase in aircraft noise, adding to the impact on the surrounding residential areas. I live 14 miles from Gatwick and can only imagine what impact an additional 100,000 flights a year would have on noise levels. • Towns like Crawley are already facing unprecedented pressure on housing and Crawley is known to have no further capacity for new housing. The developers claim they will be creating 14,000 additional jobs, no doubt many low paid. Where are these people going to live and where are their children going to attend school? • Gatwick airport sits on the Brighton Main Line, which can’t be expanded. The roads around the area are also already under significant pressure. How are 75 million more passengers (the applicants’ number) supposed to get to the airport? I reiterate, the climate emergency is happening now – it is no time to be expanding such a polluting form of travel and adding to the environmental burden on a country that is already facing a catastrophic decline in biodiversity.