Representation by Colin Troughton
- Date submitted
- 25 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am somewhat dismayed by the tone of the "Gatwick Airport Northern Runway Project" as its views/comments are all centered on the immediate Gatwick and not the villages or communities that surround it. Nor are the villages and communities under the flight paths and holding areas, aircraft will circulate until ready for landing. What will be the increase in flights? How many additional flights will there be, what is Gatwick's goal on flight numbers? The impact to local A, B, and C roads is not mentioned. The villages/communities that are used as rat paths for airport users is increasing monthly post Covid. With the daily increase on the already heavily A23, M23 many travelers, taxis are using alternative junctions off the M25. With considerable traffic already through Reigate and the A24 when it passes through Dorking and on to Gatwick through the numerous small villages and hamlets. I expect the same occurs to the villages South of Gatwick. With Climate change is there a real review of flooding and impact locally with all the additional housing to home these supposedly additional 30,000 employees. Where are they going to live? Where are the additional schools, surgeries, dentists, hospitals, ambulance stations, fire stations and shops these individuals will need to survive. The social housing needs teachers, nursing staff and infrastructure has not been identified. The report outlines the current position but not the future. Gatwick has a duty of care to these responsibilities. They appear to be leaving it to local authorities whilst the greedy get rich ! These much needed facilities were promised with the current house explosion around Crawley and Horsham to no avail. Builders stated they could not provide them due to the rise in building costs. What excuse will Gatwick use ? The SE of England will have near permanent day light due to light pollution. If you walk along the South or North Downs now in the evenings Gatwick is already a vast glow. A blot on the landscape. The environmental impact does not take into account the increase in noise, GHG or pollution (aircraft fuel) along the current flight paths and bats off the possibility of additional flight paths with none planned at this time. A bit of a get out of jail card... Leith Hill/Surrey Hills, Box Hill are areas of outstanding beauty. With aircraft now taking off over Capel and turning immediately right the noise levels in Capel, Ockley and Brockham has risen so much you stop talking until the planes have gone past. I doubt anyone compiling the report has made any enquiries in these areas. Or the probable impact. Pollution storage, now that's a hot potato... What mitigation is there re pollution entering the streams and small rivers in the area. This is happening already with blind eyes on the infrastructure facilitating this daily activity. The number of small stables surrounding Gatwick is immense and what will happen to the bridle ways/rights of ways these horse riders, dog walkers use on a daily basis. Do you want the immediate area to become another cement metropolis similar to Heathrow. Who is going to police this, what little green space we have in the SE is rapidly disappearing. I am a regular user of Gatwick and aware of the limitations but it currently works, why break it. There are other areas this expansion can move to why has it always got to be the South East. This is an area of outstanding beauty going to waste whilst some get rich living in unaffected areas by this madness.