CAGNE sends complaint to Airports Commission on poor level of local engagement by Gatwick
CAGNE, the local group set up in 2014 at Gatwick, in response to the trial of new, concentrated flight paths, has written to the Airports Commission, to complain about the activities of Gatwick Airport. Local groups have persistently complained that senior airport staff have declined invitations to attend meetings of communities around the airport. The airport is aware of the huge amount of local opposition. Instead, Gatwick has focused its advertising money and its PR on the London area. It has also contacted a large number of councils, in areas closer to Heathrow (where a Heathrow runway would be opposed) to try to get them to support a Gatwick runway instead. CAGNE points out that the Airports Commission’s own work, in its Appraisal Framework, expects runway scheme promoters will show “evidence of sustained and meaningful engagement with local and community stakeholders including highlighting any changes of features of scheme designs arising as a result of this engagement.” The Commission also expects the runway promoters to work on managing their “engagement with communities throughout the lifespan of the proposed project, including the period after any new infrastructure is delivered.” CAGNE has little confidence, considering the poor record of Gatwick airport so far, in its future engagement with local people.
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CAGNE has made an official complaint to the Airports Commission
30.3.2015 (CAGNE – Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions)
CAGNE, Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions, has made an official complaint to the Airports Commission about the “unethical” actions of Gatwick’s PR team.
Email exchanges between representatives of Gatwick’s PR team and local parish councils in the Heathrow area expose Gatwick’s efforts to encourage local authorities around Heathrow to campaign for Gatwick.
Commenting on the complaint, Pavey explained:
“Gatwick has deliberately avoided open consultation with its most important stakeholders – local residents.
“We’ve now discovered that all this time they’ve actively encouraged Heathrow’s local authorities to support a second runway. It’s unethical and must be challenged.
“The fact remains that 12 local authorities and 8 local area MPs around Gatwick do not support their plans. It’s no wonder, given that a second runway would destroy the tranquillity of Sussex, not to mention Gatwick’s complete disregard of local concerns.”
Given the deliberate lack of consultation by Gatwick executives with its own neighbours in Sussex, CAGNE believe the resourcing of a number of full time staff to consult with Heathrow locals is unethical and is in open defiance of the Commission’s appraisal framework.
CAGNE’s letter to the Commission states that: “The Commission believes that it is important for local communities most affected by airport development to be properly engaged and consulted. The Commission wishes to examine how scheme promoters intend to manage their engagement with communities throughout the lifespan of the proposed project, including the period after any new infrastructure is delivered.” [Section 16.3 Airports Commission Appraisal Framework. April 2014. Page 119. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300223/airports-commission-appraisal-framework.pdf ]
The first time concerned residents in Sussex were able to ask questions of executives from Gatwick was at the Airports Commission public consultation day on 16th December.
The issue of the resourcing of Gatwick staff to consult with Heathrow communities was raised at the last GATCOM (Gatwick’s consultative committee) meeting. Gatwick executive, Charles Kirwan-Taylor, suggested this is standard practice and that Heathrow would have done the same.
However, none of the Gatwick area councils at that meeting have received such a communication from Heathrow executives encouraging them to vote for expansion at Heathrow instead of Gatwick.
The fact that Gatwick is spending millions of pounds in advertising and posters in London and around Heathrow, but none locally, reinforces the view Gatwick have not consulted or engaged properly with local residents or councils. They are not providing any of the facts such as how a 2nd runway would cost the Government billions of ££s of taxpayers’ money for social, as well as transport, infrastructure. The issue of the cost to the taxpayer is a key factor that the local authorities and MPs have recognised. However, Gatwick is selective with its figures and avoided the issue of cost to the public purse.
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The Airports Commission Appraisal Framework also said one of the expected outputs of the assessment was:
“Evidence of sustained and meaningful engagement with local and community stakeholders including highlighting any changes of features of scheme designs arising as a result of this engagement.” Page 122 on Appraisal Framework
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Letter from CAGNE to the Airports Commission
18th March 2015
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Sir Howard Davies
Airports Commission
Sanctuary Buildings
20 Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
Dear Sir Howard
CAGNE would like to make a formal complaint about the actions of Gatwick Airport’s Public Relations executive relating to the attached email sent to residents and councils around Heathrow. It is now quite clear that many Commission submissions made from councils in West London have been led and worded by Gatwick.
Given the deliberate lack of consultation by Gatwick executives with its own neighbours in Sussex and Kent, the resourcing of a number of full time staff to consult with Heathrow locals is unethical and is in open defiance of your Commission’s appraisal framework.
It states that “The Commission believes that it is important for local communities most affected by airport development to be properly engaged and consulted. The Commission wishes to examine how scheme promoters intend to manage their engagement with communities throughout the lifespan of the proposed project, including the period after any new infrastructure is delivered.” [Section 16.3 Airports Commission Appraisal Framework. April 2014. Page 119. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300223/airports-commission-appraisal-framework.pdf ]
As you are aware, the first time concerned residents in Sussex and Kent were able to ask questions of executives from Gatwick was at the Airports Commission public consultation. Since that time, Gatwick have resumed their policy of obfuscation relating to the expansion plans of the airport and the effect on our communities.
The resourcing of Gatwick staff to consult with Heathrow communities was raised at the last GATCOM meeting and Gatwick executive, Charles Kirwan Taylor, suggested this is standard practice and that Heathrow would have done the same.
None of the councils at that meeting have received such a communication from Heathrow executives encouraging them to vote for expansion at Heathrow instead of Gatwick.
The fact that Gatwick is spending millions of pounds in advertising and posters around Heathrow and none locally, reinforces the fact Gatwick have not consulted or engaged with local residents or councils.
By ignoring this key part of the appraisal framework, it is no surprise that 12 local authorities, 8 MPs, airlines, big business and residents groups that surround Gatwick all oppose expansion would suggest we have been totally ignored by Gatwick management.
On this basis alone, the submission by Gatwick as a short-listed option for the Airports Commission should be withdrawn.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully
Sally Pavey
Chair of CAGNE
Email cagnegatwick@gmail.com
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cc Prime Minister David Cameron
Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin
Rt Hon Francis Maude MP
Crispin Blunt MP
Nick Herbert MP
Sir Nicholas Soames MP
Charles Hendry MP
Sam Gyimah MP
Sir John Stanley MP
Sir Paul Beresford MP
Henry Smith MP
George Osborne MP
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Text of email from Gatwick airport to local councils around Heathrow to get them to back a Gatwick runway.
From: Russell Guthrie [mailto:Russell.Guthrie@gatwickairport.com]
Sent: 15 January 2015 14:12
To: ………….. X Y Z
Subject: Supporting Gatwick
Dear parish council and residents association
I hope you don’t mind the unsolicited email, but I have been prompted to write to you after being contacted by several other parish councils and residents associations in the Heathrow area recently. All of them expressed concern about the effect of Heathrow’s third runway plan and asked whether there was anything their members could do to support a new runway at Gatwick.
The simple answer is yes – there are two things your members could do if they choose. I have highlighted both methods below and, assuming you think the cause is worthwhile, I wondered if you would be willing to ‘cascade’ this information to all your members via email or any other method at your disposal?
The first way to support Gatwick is by responding to the Airports Commission’s consultation telling them why you oppose a third runway at Heathrow. The consultation closes on Tuesday 3 February so there is not a great deal of time left to do this. I have set out how to respond online, via email and by post below, and have also attached a summary of why we think Gatwick has the stronger case to build a new runway. These may help people fill out the consultation form more quickly and easily, although respondents do not have to answer every question on the form.
The second way to support Gatwick is to register your support. The Airports Commission will be made aware of total number of people supporting Gatwick, so it is important that as many people as possible register their support.
Should you wish to respond to the consultation, please make your voice heard before 3 February by emailing the Airports Commission at airports.consultation@systra.com, by filling in their online survey or by writing to: …. address given …)
How do I register my support for Gatwick? Simply fill in your name and email address on the website linked to below: http://www.gatwickobviously.com/mailing-list-sign-up/standard
Why is Gatwick the right location for a new runway? See attached document. (not attached here).
My Colleague Hannah Staunton, Head of Community Engagement at Gatwick Airport can answer any questions you might have & can be contacted on community@gatwickairport.com
Kindest Regards,
Russell Guthrie
Senior Media Campaigns Manager
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