New grouping called “Gatwick Obviously NOT” pulling together 12 local groups in Kent and West Sussex against Gatwick plans

On 27th August, under the auspices of Gatwickobviouslynot.org, twelve groups from all over Kent and Sussex got together in Penshurst to discuss the next steps in dealing with problems relating to Gatwick. Main concerns were the recent Gatwick airspace consultation, that has been dubbed “not fit for purpose ” by Greg Clark MP, the situation with new and altered flight paths, and the threat of aircraft noise becoming substantially worse if Gatwick was able to build a second runway. The meeting noted that the CEO of Gatwick, Stewart Wingate, had that same day said ‘Expansion at Gatwick is the obvious choice” and can be delivered to our country  “at an environmental cost it can afford” – a statement which those attending the meeting found most perplexing and very disturbing. The meeting demonstrated very clearly the determination of people in previously quiet areas of Kent and Sussex not to allow Gatwick to destroy their peace, and their quality of life. The new groups are articulate, determined and organised – and by working together, and with the older established campaign, they are a force to be reckoned with.
.

 

Penshurst meeting brings together new local groups formed in response to increased aircraft noise nuisance from Gatwick

29.8.14 (Press release from Gatwick Obviously Not.org)

On the evening Tuesday 27th August, under the auspices of Gatwickobviouslynot.org , twelve groups from all over Kent and Sussex got together in Penshurst to discuss the next steps in dealing with Gatwick’s recent  “not fit for purpose ” (Greg Clark MP) Consultation on new flight paths and the situation over the second runway.

The meeting noted that the CEO of Gatwick, Stewart Wingate, had that same day said “‘Expansion at Gatwick is the obvious choice” and can be delivered to our country  “at an environmental cost it can afford”- a statement which is most perplexing and very disturbing.

Sarah Clayton of AirportWatch said,

‘The degree of upset and concern about the increased over-flying of areas of Kent is very significant. The meeting demonstrated very clearly the determination of people in previously quiet areas of Kent and Sussex not to allow Gatwick to destroy their peace, and their quality of life. The new groups are organised and effective; the new opposition from east of Gatwick is a force to be reckoned with’.

Peter Barclay of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) said,

‘We are pleased to be associated with and to support the powerful voices that are coming together following Tuesday’s meeting in Penshurst. The aviation industry must recognise that imposition of new or increased noise on communities is simply not acceptable in today’s world and that the impact on people in rural areas is greater than in urban areas.”

—-

Gatwickobviouslynot.org 


 

Gatwick Obviously NOT

Gatwick Obviously NOT was set up in July 2014, in response to the concern raised by hundreds, or thousands, of people in Kent about increased noise from Gatwick flights this summer.

The group was started as Planes Over Penshurst, but grew rapidly into Gatwick Obviously NOT.  It is in the process of forming an umbrella group, incorporating the many other local groups that have also come into being this summer, due to the increased noise nuisance. It is a lively, active group that is keen to ensure that opposition in the area is focused, that demands are similar between different village/town groups, and that by working together, they are a more effective force than by working individually. As is the case with CAGNE, they are also members of GACC, the over arching and long established group working to oppose damaging plans by Gatwick airport.

WebsiteGatwick Obviously NOT

Email: ask@gatwickobviouslynot.org

Twitter: @LGWobviouslyNOT 

Facebook: LGW Obviously NOT


 

.

Contact details for the other local groups:

Local groups to the east of Gatwick

There are now a  number of new groups now active in the West Kent/East Sussex area.  Many will be working within the Gatwick Obviously NOT umbrella.
Gatwick Obviously NOT (GON.  Penshurst)

High Weald Parish Councils Aviation Action Group (HWPCAAG.  High Weald)  It has 9 member parish councils plus representation from Edenbridge Town Council and 3 residents or amenity groups.

East Sussex Communities for the Control of Air Noise (ESCANN. East Sussex, Crowborough)


Communities Against Gatwick Noise EmissionsEast  (CAGNE.East Bidborough)


Weald Action Group Against Noise  (WAGAN.  Weald)


Tunbridge Wells Action Group  (TWAG.  Tunbridge Wells)


Langton Green Residents Association


CAGNE East

Email:  cagne.east@gmail.com
Blog at   http://beagblog.wordpress.com.
[The group has emerged from BEAG – the Bidborough Environment Action Group].
CAGNE East is the sister group of CAGNE.   CAGNE East is for all residents and local communities East of Gatwick Airport. Set up by concerned residents of Bidborough in Kent, it provides campaign support to a growing network of residents, communities, campaign groups, Parish Councils and NGOs who are all concerned about Gatwick expansion.
CAGNE East opposes a 2nd Gatwick runway, night flights and the proposed new ‘superhighway flightpaths’, which unchallenged, pose a grave threat to our way of life and our regional economy.
Enquiries –  Simon Byerley  and Kealey Castle
.

ESCCAN (East Susses Communities for Control of Air Noise).

 Email:  esccan@outlook.com 
Active residents group in Crowborough, called ESCCAN  They want to keep a local focus for their concerns in the Crowborough area, and the protection of the Ashdown Forest.
.

WAGAN (Weald Action Group Against Noise) 

Working very closely in support of HWAAG (High Weald Aviation Action Group). These groups are also working on blogs, and as with the case of CAGNE East, this depends on volunteers managing to fit in this work, unpaid, in already busy lives.

HWAAG

(High Weald Aviation Action Group) and the

HWPCAAG (High Weald Parish Councils Aviation Action Group)

This has been formed to fight increasing noise and to oppose Gatwick’s bid for a 2nd runway. The group consists of eight parishes in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which are all adversely affected by Gatwick aircraft noise. The group consists of the Parish Councils of Chiddingstone, Hever, Leigh and Penshurst and 4 other parishes.
Their chair is Richard Streatfield, who is the Chairman of Chiddingstone Parish Council.  Email: chair@chiddingstone.org

.

Tunbridge Wells Action Group

To ensure that the views of Tunbridge Wells residents are taken into consideration, on the issue of Gatwick aircraft noise – and the airspace consultation  – the Tunbridge Wells Action Group has been set up. Its informative website (www.tunbridgewells.weebly.com) sets out the local problem. The group is actively leafleting local residents to try and stimulate a response to the consultation.  Several of the outlying villages have formed their own action groups but to date the town had been under-represented on the flight paths issue.

Contact, through the website

Flyer

.