Representation by Richard Higgins
- Date submitted
- 15 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly support the Gatwick Northern Runway Project and the delivery of additional capacity for future aviation in the South East. Our international connectivity is important to the UK economy and London Gatwick has demonstrated, consistently over the last 10 or more years, that it can serve a wide range of markets as well as being a gateway for international visitors and trade in to the UK. Moreover, London Gatwick's contribution to the local economy cannot be overstated as it provides a nexus for business growth and a centre for employment skills in Sussex and Surrey across a wide variety of jobs. My view is that commercial aviation will significantly reduce its carbon footprint in line with Government and international goals and that air travel will continue to be an important part of global trade, communication and tourism. The UK economy is reliant on international trade and we should not constrain the economic benefits of market growth, where it can be achieved carefully and efficiently. Commercial aviation does not exist in a bubble and I recognise that there are impacts on surrounding communities, which need to be managed and minimised where possible. I believe that the London Gatwick proposal acknowledges these impacts and provides reasonable measures to reduce or mitigate them. The innovative use of the current emergency runway is a good example of making best use of existing assets. With the project largely contained within the existing airport boundary a number of direct land and community impacts more normally associated with large airport projects (for example the significant loss of open public space associated with London Luton Airport Expansion DCO and the Heathrow Third Runway proposal) are reduced. On the subject of access to the airport I would note that the evidence presented for future congestion in the absence of the project suggests that the highway mitigation proposed will significantly benefit local communities as well as airport users, and improve safety and operational efficiency. Without private sector investment in transport networks there seems little chance that future, general traffic growth would be mitigated by local highway authorities or seen as affordable, and National Highway budgets are similarly constrained (noting that a third lane was added to only one half of the M23 Spur Jn 9-9a as part of the M23 Smart Motorway Project, partly in order to manage scheme costs). Local authorities would point to their Local Transport Plans, Bus Service Improvement Plans and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans as ways in which they will discourage car use and shift journeys to public transport and active travel, or reduce the need for travel. However, these tend to be focussed more on accessing a share of Government funding than achieving actual behavioural change. Mode shift as a result of these local transport initiatives is harder to achieve as it requires transformation of the scale of the Crawley Fastway bus network (part funded by London Gatwick) to make lasting impacts. London Gatwick is seeking to provide direct incentives for sustainable travel, particularly for staff, which local authorities and even transport operators cannot. It's targets exceed those of the growth plans for other UK airports, and it already has one of the highest proportions for sustainable travel by passengers, demonstrating both ambition and previous success. This seeks to minimise the adverse effects of car travel. The extent of highway mitigation supports safe access for airport-related car trips via the Strategic Road Network rather than local roads whilst also improving conditions for local journeys between Horley and Crawley and to/from the M23, relieving congestion that benefits all users. It also includes significant improvements for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the airport. London Gatwick has already demonstrated it is willing to invest significant funds to support local bus services and transform its railway station for future growth and the commitments in the DCO indicate it is willing to go further, creating greater certainty over monitoring and managing the impacts of growth. It is reasonable for London Gatwick to be held accountable for managing its impacts while delivering the proposed, beneficial growth to local communities and to the regional and national economy. The DCO application evidences where London Gatwick already does this, and where it will continue to do so with the Northern Runway Project. I also think there is scope for local authorities and communities to work more constructively with the airport to achieve common goals rather than treat them as adversaries (which some media would have us believe).