Representation by Flight Free UK (Flight Free UK)
- Date submitted
- 24 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
The UK government's advisers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) strongly recommends that there should be no net airport expansion across the UK. Their advice for the most effective way of reducing aviation emissions is to manage demand (page 267 of the 2023 Progress Report to Parliament https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/2023-progress-report-to-parliament/) Airport expansion cannot be viewed in isolation. There is no mention of any other UK airport shrinking its passenger numbers in the proposals to expand Gatwick. Any expansion would therefore clearly be in contravention of the Climate Change Committee’s advice. All UK airport expansion emissions should be viewed and considered in the planning system as cumulative. Expansion on the scale proposed would substantially increase CO2 emissions and other climate effects associated with flights. There are currently no proven technologies for reducing aviation emissions at scale. Expansion of Gatwick would therefore have a material impact on the UK’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets. Carbon emissions will also result from construction works and increased road traffic to the airport. Flights and traffic will make air pollution worse. Expansion of Gatwick would significantly increase aircraft noise both for those living near the airport and for those further away under flight paths. The noise envelope Gatwick has proposed are not consistent with government policy and CAA guidance and are wholly one-sided. They should be substantially revised.? A ban on night flights should be a condition of any expansion at Gatwick. The airport should also be required to set out a comprehensive package of measures to incentivise the use of the quietest aircraft at night outside the hours of a ban.