Representation by Michelle Benjamin
- Date submitted
- 28 October 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I oppose Gatwick airport's application for a northern runway as this is actually for a new runway and does not comply with policy. Gatwick does not have 2 runways that it operates at the moment together so it a new one. There will be an increase in aircraft noise which if you live anywhere near this area is already not acceptable. I am woken during the night and early hours of the morning by aircraft sometimes 3 minutes apart, as one is going another is on it's way. Anyone like us already living with this is in fear that if this increases it will be unbearable and have a massive effect on our day to day lives and mental health. Not to mention the emissions, I have no idea what we are already breathing in daily across West Sussex. I sometimes smell aviation fuel in the air and we know there will be a significant impact on air quality. There is a lack of affordable housing locally for workers to walk or cycle to Gatwick as proposed by Gatwick and a complete lack of amenities. Gatwick is on the M23 which is already an unsafe smart road so by adding another runway there will be a huge increase of freight, passengers and also staff which will make the road congested and in residential roads around. They say lots of new jobs for unskilled workers but history shows these jobs are not secure in the leisure industry. Also, so many jobs are now done by self service, by AI, so less staff are needed and this will become more so in the future. Gatwick sits on the Brighton main line and this cannot be expanded and will be unable to accept the huge burden of over 32m extra passengers, it is a ridiculous notion. I think the most important thing at the current time and something we are all meant to be striving to work at is the current climate emergency but adding a new runway would add a significant amount of carbon and greenhouse gases. This is completely unreasonable and should not be allowed. Gatwick, I understand is a private business and the owners are far away and benefit from profits that are made in the UK but have no interest in the residents in the areas affected by their aircraft. I do not understand why this would be even considered. It would be absolutely ludicrous and completely thoughtless to those if affects on a daily basis. We live and breathe in Gatwick's fumes day after day and endure endless aircraft noise, the thought that this could be increased would be unforgivable so please do not let this happen. I have written to Gatwick a couple of times since I have lived here to complain of night noise and the answer I get back is 'Gatwick has always had night flights', I don't see that makes it okay. It just proves they do not listen and are not interested but it is the residents in this wonderful county that are directly affected. I am sure they sleep well at night. Thank you for reading this. Kind regards Michelle