Gatwick opposition groups and MPs hand in letter to Downing Street, asking PM to recognise devastating impact of Gatwick runway
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Gatwick opposition groups urge PM to recognise devastating impact
Photo outside Number 10 Downing Street. Local campaign groups representating residents from East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent and Surrey, with four senior MPs – Sir Nicholas Soames, Sir John Stanley, Crispin Blunt and Nick Herbert. A joint statement opposing Gatwick expansion and the changes to flights paths was handed in to the Prime Minister. Representatives for residents groups were Sally Pavey CAGNE West Sussex; John Byng GACC; Simon Byerley of Gatwick Obviously Not and CAGNE EAST – East Sussex and Kent; Ian Hare of PAGNE Pulborough; Mike Ward Plane Wrong Surrey and Jane Vogt GACC and Kent.
Local authorities opposed to Gatwick expansion:
Local MPs opposed to Gatwick expansion
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Letter to the Prime Minister from the Gatwick groups
10 Downing Street
Westminster
London
SW1A 2AADear Prime Minister
All Gatwick Campaign Groups – The United Message
The United Message
• Using PBN to achieve the greatest possible safe height with smooth Continual Descent Approach at all times
• Noise and noise shadow rather than Co2 to be the primary environmental consideration down from 6,000 feet in the design of all arrival routes
• No night flights (currently defined as 11.30pm -6am)Departures• Using PBN to achieve the maximum dispersal of flight departure paths (restricted to areas previously overflown) within Noise Preferential Routes
• Using PBN to achieve the greatest possible safe height with smooth Continual Ascent Departure at all times
• Noise and noise shadow rather than Co2 to be the primary environmental consideration up to 6,000 feet in the design of all departure routes
• No night flights (currently defined as 11.30pm -6am)
We wish to record the fact that communities within our groups are in tranquil, rural areas and are significantly affected by noise below 10,000ft. We are hopeful that the plight of these communities can be improved through our proposed change in policy to use PBN for maximum dispersal for flight arrivals and departures.
The Airbus (single aisle aircraft series) design fault
Issue: The A320 series of aircraft have a design fault in their wing fuel filler caps, which cause a debilitating whine. A straightforward fix exists via the fitting of a ‘vortex generator’
Resolution: Ensure the retrofitting of vortex generators to correct this fault on aircraft used by operators at the soonest opportunity, by all means possible
Signatories on behalf of communities in West Sussex, Surrey, East Sussex and Kent:
CAGNE Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions
www.cagne.org
ESCCAN East Sussex Communities for the Control of Air Noise
GACC Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
www.gacc.org.uk
GON Gatwick Obviously NOT
www.gatwickobviouslynot.org
PAGNE Pulborough Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions
Ian-hare@lineone.net
Plane Wrong Plane Wrong
www.planewrong.co.uk
Also representing –
LGVS Langton Green Village Society
SPAG Speldhurst Action Group
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Letter from CAGNE to the Airports Commission
18th March 2015
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.”
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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