Representation by Lewes District Green Party (Lewes District Green Party)
- Date submitted
- 19 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
Lewes District Green Party strongly with the proposed expansion in aviation at Gatwick Airport which is wholly incompatible with action to achieve net zero, and we would like to register as an interested party. Our areas of disagreement are: • Ability to achieve net zero targets: Expansion of Gatwick would have a material impact not just on the UK’s ability to meet its carbon reduction targets but Lewes district’s ability to reach net zero by 2030, which was committed to via a Lewes District council motion in 2019, plus similar motions by several of our town and parish councils Expansion on the scale proposed would increase substantially the CO2 emissions and other climate effects associated with Gatwick’s operations and flights . There are currently no proven technologies for reducing aviation emissions at scale. • Traffic and air quality: Expansion of Garwick would have a detrimental Impact on traffic and associated air quality issues in our district. An increase from 46 million passengers in 2019 to 80 million passengers per annum (over 70% growth) will inevitably increase congestion. Many roads are congested and the A27 Ashcombe roundabout is identified as ‘under stress’ by Highways England already. Should there be an expansion in passenger number we would expect substantial investment in public transport to be required, to enable both train and bus travel by residents in our district • Increasing noise pollution: an increase from 281,000 aircraft movements in 2019 to 386,000 aircraft movements per annum (over 35% growth) would exacerbate noise pollution to residents including tranquil rural areas, and negatively impact the tranquillity of the South downs national park.