Representation by Ben Turner
- Date submitted
- 6 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Environmental impact: The main arguments for this project are focused on economic growth and job creation. At a time when there is more focus than ever on the environmental impact of our actions, I cannot fathom how these plans align with accelerated de-carbonisation of the aviation industry set out in the Jet Zero strategy from the government. The Environment Bill requires development to have an overall positive impact on biodiversity and the environment. It is not clear how expansion of Gatwick Airport, with up to 35% increase in flights can have a positive impact. The commitment to make the airport itself carbon neutral in future years is a noble one, but it is also very localised to the immediate area and not considering the wider environmental damage an increase of 35% in flights will have on the surrounding area as well as the wider world. Air traffic and traffic noise: The difference to air traffic and air noise over the summer period of 2021 to 2023 has been very noticeable and I am nervous about the impact the expected increase in aircraft movement will have (we understand it could be as much as 35%). I recognise of course that we bought a home in the wider vicinity of Gatwick, but honestly had no idea how many planes we would see and hear descending. We are worried longer-term if our concerns are realised, that not only will it have a negative impact on our daily lives, including at night, but that it will also impact the house price should we feel we have no option but to sell up and relocate. The airport has said it will not use the northern runway between 23.00 and 6.00am but that is not the reality, we regularly hear planes coming in after 23.00. The solution offered by Gatwick to deal with air traffic noise to those close enough to the flightpath (house insulation) is not an acceptable or realistic measure to support homeowners. Where it would be most beneficial (during peak summer holiday period for flights – now July onwards) would require us to keep our windows closed at night and during the day to mask the noise, we can’t do this with increasingly hot summers resulting in part from climate change. In the peak of the summer, I must hear circa 5 planes every 2 mins coming into land at regular intervals during the day, which I have now monitored using the app flightradar24, I shouldn’t need to stay indoors to avoid the noise in my double-glazed home. At present, we have mainly descending planes, with this proposal we will also get ascending planes too, which are even noisier and emit a lot more carbon which will increase the negative impact to the health of residents in the area and the environment. The proposals from Gatwick talk about quieter planes over the next 15-20 years, but that is a long time away and with the aviation industry struggling with severe financial loss at the moment, we cannot see how new quieter planes can be afforded in that time period, or even if we would hear the difference, given the decibel change is so minimal in terms of auditory impact. Smaller airports like London City have very clear restrictions on flight times during the week and at weekends, I expect due to it being based in a densely populated area and as such a condition of the successful application. Why cannot more restrictions be put on a larger airport like Gatwick should it wish to expand to help residents in the local and surrounding area? What mitigations can be agreed to support those most impacted by a successful application? It feels like residents don't matter in such projects and that should not be the case. Local transport infrastructure: I recognise some of the transport infrastructure will expand to take on greater capacity in the area, but are concerned about the increase in passenger numbers using local bus and train services which are since covid already limited and create as a result more road congestion which is contrary to the ambition of the project to reduce individual cars travelling to the airport. The proposals on support for local transport and infrastructure are insufficient in an already busy commuter area around Gatwick.