Representation by David Roff
- Date submitted
- 26 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe that the expansion will in effect exacerbate a situation which is already unsustainable. In fact, the current flight path arrangements heavily affect our whole parish both during the day and at night time. So there could be even more serious consequences for our community if Gatwick's plans for the future are allowed to reach fruition. , Forecasts predict that Gatwick Airport will be serving 75 million passengers by the end of 2030. This will mean that our parish will be forever changed by the creation of a motorway in the sky. Furthermore, I believe it is important to underline that only in June 2023, the Climate Change Committee advised the UK government that no airport expansion should go ahead as it will inevitably impact the government’s commitment to ensure the UK reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050. Over 53% of Wealden District falls within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – a landscape of national importance which was designated as an AONB in 1983. Speldhurst Parish is at the heart of this AONB and our communities retain the highest percentage of ancient woodland and some of the darkest night skies across the British Isles. Again, should Gatwick’s plan be allowed to succeed, the complex tapestry of our natural environment will be further degraded by the increase of noise and air pollution.