Representation by Anthony Edward Beaumont
- Date submitted
- 19 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Crawley only exists as a New Town as a support centre for Gatwick airport, which was built in a countryside location to effect the closure of Croydon airport, which was hemmed in by local housing. The town of Crawley was purposely arranged off the flight path so that residents were not affected by aircraft noise. Vast areas of Crawley are dedicated to logistics, and Gatwick as London's second airport deserves to be expanded. Noise is supposed to affect Tunbridge Wells, but that is so far from the airport that diversions are easily achieved. The only road improvement required should have been done already. The Southbound junction on the M23 was massively improved, but curiously the traffic leaving the Airport is only allowed an original junction which is clearly out of date. Compare Gatwick's requirements for public money with Heathrow's, which wants a housing estate demolished and the M25 covered with an extended runway, and then look at the 800,000 people who supposedly are the only Londoners affected by Heathrow with the 80,000 (inflated by the population of Tunbridge Wells miles away) and there is no contest as to which airport deserves to expand. I demand a written criticism of my points by the chair of the inquiry if they are not accepted as fact.