Representation by Alison Maitland
- Date submitted
- 12 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am concerned about a number of issues relating to this planning application. As a local resident, the huge increase in traffic would be unwelcome. The increased noise level from both road and air traffic would also be unwelcome. Air quality would be negatively impacted, with the subsequent risk to people’s health, especially those who are already vulnerable due to age and /or existing respiratory conditions. In understand that the area is a flood plain, so already at risk. Mitigation for this is insufficient. Increased waste water and significant additional water requirements are not addressed by the plans. The proposed benefits do not seem truthful or appear to have been overestimated. The increase in jobs would not be as beneficial as implied as many are likely to be short term, or zero hours, and these people may not be able to afford to live locally, increasing yet more travel. I understand that Gatwick is even now unable to fill job vacancies. The economic case has been based on increased business travel, which is not factually correct as only leisure travel is increasing, so this does not benefit us here in the UK and does not provide a rationale for airport expansion. Finally, any plan to increase air travel, or the capacity for air travel, is going to result in an increase in CO2 emissions- from the planes obviously but also from the road travel and all the construction. This is reckless and irresponsible in a time of climate emergency. Please register me and my concerns for consideration. Thank you.