GACC launch its “Gatwick’s Big Enough” campaign against any 2nd runway
The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, GACC, has launched its campaign against a new Gatwick runway under the slogan “Gatwick’s Big Enough.” It has been carefully chosen to show that there is no opposition to the airport as it is, only to the plans to double its size. Thousands of car stickers have been posted to members with this logo. The campaign has also been attending all the Gatwick Airport exhibitions around the area, and has produced a new Fact File. This sets out the information that the airport is not telling people, on the actual impacts a new runway would have, in terms of noise, stress on infrastructure and public services, total change in the character of the area even some distance away, and deteriorating quality of life for many. In GACC’s experience, having been to several Gatwick exhibitions, “It is our impression that many people go in with an open mind but come out alarmed at the scale of what is proposed” and ‘My impression was that the overwhelming majority {in Crawley} were against a new runway” and many people “were irritated by the lack of information on flight paths.”
.
Tweet
Gatwick’s Big Enough
14.4.2014 (GACC – Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)
GACC has launched its campaign against a new Gatwick runway under the slogan Gatwick’s Big Enough. It has been carefully chosen to show that there is no opposition to the airport as it is, only to the plans to double its size. Thousands of car stickers have been posted to members with this logo.
A Fact File summarising the facts about a new runway has been posted to all councillors on seven County, Borough and District councils. Gatwick Fact File April 2014
GACC volunteers have been much in evidence outside the exhibitions organised by the airport, so far held in Crawley, Rusper, Ifield, Lingfield and Felbridge.
Having taken part in the recent spate of Gatwick airport exhibitions, GACC volunteers have commented:
– ‘It is our impression that many people go in with an open mind but come out alarmed at the scale of what is proposed.’ said John Byng, GACC joint vice chairman.
– ‘My impression was that the overwhelming majority {in Crawley} were against a new runway’ said Peter Jordan, a GACC volunteer from Ifield.
– ‘At Lingfield many were irritated by the lack of information on flight paths.’ according to Tony Brookes, another GACC volunteer
– ‘Many people are confused by the airport response form which has 278 boxes which you can tick – but only one well-hidden little box labelled ‘None of these options’ if you wish to say No to a new runway’ according to Peter Barclay, GACC vice chairman.
– ‘Some people are very concerned at lack of relocation and compensation being offered by the airport, they can’t seem to get any answers from the Gatwick staff,’ said Sally Pavey of GACC and CAGNE.
‘People appreciate that we are volunteers giving up our own time compared to the well-paid professionals working for the airport. The exhibitions are having one good result,’ said Brendon Sewill, chairman of GACC, ‘ we have had a lot of new people signing up as members.’
‘A number of local action groups, from Tunbridge Wells to Horsham, have been formed opposing a new runway – all working with GACC. For instance, in Crawley the all-Party ‘One’s Enough’ group has been re-started: it had great success in 2003 in persuading Crawley Council to switch from a position of support for a new runway to one of unanimous opposition.
.
Fact File at: Gatwick Fact File April 2014
.
.
Earlier:
Gatwick’s 1st runway consultation exhibition – met with spirited opposition by those to be badly affected
April 5, 2014
Gatwick airport has started a period of 6 weeks of consultation on its plans for a 2nd runway. The consultation is something of a PR exercise, as the Airports Commission has only short listed the wide spaced runway option. Gatwick Airport is, for some reason best known to itself, including the narrow spaced runway (which it does not want) in the consultation options. There is a series of exhibitions planned, by Gatwick airport, in a number of towns and villages over the coming weeks, with the first today in Crawley – the town which might be the worst affected by a 2nd runway. There was spirited opposition by people fighting plans for a new runway, and especially those who have recently found themselves under a new “trial” flight path. Feedback from the exhibition was that it was well attended, by several hundred people, many of whom appeared to be against a new runway. One of their questions was how to fill in the forms, to clearly convey their opposition to any runway – there is just one box people can tick, on the last page, in Section D, “None of these options.” Click here to view full story…
GACC describes Gatwick consultation as “plush and bogus” – it gives no proper chance to say “no” to a new runway
April 4, 2014
The consultation published by Gatwick Airport today is described by GACC (the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) as ‘plush but bogus.’ It is plush because no expense has been spared in an attempt to make a new Gatwick runway look inevitable. But it makes no economic or environmental sense to build a new Gatwick runway when Stansted is not forecast to be full until around 2040. It is bogus because the Airports Commission has already ruled out Option 1, the close-parallel runway. GACC’s objections remain as strong as ever. They will campaign vigorously against any new runway. The consultation document contains no maps showing future flight paths – which is an issue of huge significance to local people. It also ignores the inconvenient issue of necessary increases in landing fees, to pay for a runway + terminal. The consultation is deeply flawed, as it gives no proper option to oppose any new runway. There is merely one small option of “None of these options” buried in its section D. That is difficult to find and somewhat confusing (it could mean a preference for some other runway location). A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’.
Click here to view full story…
Gatwick consultation published: A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’
April 4, 2014
Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) has put forward 3 options for a 2nd runway at Gatwick and is now asking for comment from the public to its consultation. They key omission in their consultation is a proper option to say NO to any new runway. A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’ at the start of the response form. As it is, there is a small box buried in section D with the option of “None of these options”. Gatwick is asking people to choose between a narrow spaced runway (something the airport does not want, as it would not be practical – so it cannot be considered a serious option) and whether a wide spaced runway(1045 metres south of the existing runway) should be used for both landings and take offs, or for just landings or take offs, at one time. The Airports Commission has effectively already ruled out the narrow spaced runway, so its inclusion in the consultation seems to be a bit of a PR exercise. The purpose of the consultation is to help Gatwick get their runway plans approved, and if possible, keep public opposition to a minimum. Consultation ends 16th May (which is the date all runway proposals must be submitted to the Airports Commission).
Click here to view full story…
.
.
.
.