Representation by Wendy Lockwood
- Date submitted
- 16 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I strongly oppose the plans for a new runway at Gatwick Airport. I live in a rural village close by and my sleep is already regularly disturbed by aircraft noise. I am anxious that flights will increase and poor sleep will affect my health. A lot of traffic passing through our village is on its way to Gatwick and I fear the expansion will mean an increase in not just aircraft pollution but also traffic pollution and therefore a decline in air quality. I am concerned that there is already a lack of affordable housing in this area so an increase in the need for extra workforce that a Gatwick expansion would require will impact heavily on traffic as well as local schools and hospitals. Gatwick sits on a single main road M23 and the surrounding roads will become more congested with the extra passengers and freight that the expansion would bring. This will increase pollution and bring about a decline in air quality. We are in a climate emergency and a new runway will add to greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions when we should be looking at ways to lower them. Expanding Gatwick Airport will increase visitors to the area and along with an expansion of workforce and extra housing needed I fear there will be a potential for flooding and sewage may enter our river system and pollute the River Arun