Representation by Sarah Chalker
- Date submitted
- 14 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I feel very strongly that Gatwick's planning application, which would enable over 70% growth in passengers per year and over 35% growth in aircraft movements since 2019, would have a huge adverse impact in this area (which is between the airport and the M25) - due to noise, public transport and road congestion, and associated air pollution from carbon emissions. It would also add to the flood risk in the area from the surface water flowing off the huge amount of extra concrete involved in the runway building works. With regard to traffic, already the volume of traffic through our country village roads is high - and these are unsuitable narrow B roads. From what I can see nothing much is proposed to change the existing poor road connections. More traffic will move into the village to escape the jams on the M23. Neither does it look like the rail network will be improved, and we have no tube lines, unlike Heathrow. A huge capacity increase of the rail networks to the airport would be required, at a time when such projects have been cut by government. We have been affected by the fact that more Heathrow aircraft are increasingly flying overhead, and to have even more from Gatwick, with associated noise and pollution, is distressing. Expansion as proposed would very substantially increase C02 emissions. This would also affect the UK's ability to meet its carbon reduction targets. Overall, bringing so many extra passengers to Gatwick will have a huge adverse environmental effect on our countryside, with not enough remedial measures even being considered. I strongly oppose this planning application.