Gatwick opposition groups and MPs hand in letter to Downing Street, asking PM to recognise devastating impact of Gatwick runway

Date added: 23 March, 2015

Six local groups and four MPs opposing a 2nd Gatwick runway, and the increased noise nuisance caused by Gatwick airport, handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street today. They urge the government to recognise the strength of local opposition to a 2nd Gatwick runway, and changes to flight paths. They are asking the Prime Minister to recognise the devastating impact of a 2nd runway, the lack of local political support and the strength of feeling among local residents against changes to flight paths already in and out of Gatwick. The delegation will hand in the letter, signed by the chairs of the groups representing residents in Sussex, Kent and Surrey, that surround Gatwick and are affected by it. Together, the groups represent tens of thousands of people. Sally Pavey, Chair of local group CAGNE commented: “Throughout this process, we’ve been hugely disappointed with Gatwick’s lack of consultation with the local area. CEO Stewart Wingate continues to portray the airport as an ‘easy option’ for expansion, while ignoring the concerns of thousands of local residents. Also that it will cost the taxpayer billions in infrastructure bills and the devaluation of vast areas of the south-east with aircraft noise.” CAGNE have also submitted an official complaint to the Airports Commission, on the actions of Gatwick airport in lobbying Heathrow councils to back a Gatwick runway.

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Gatwick opposition groups urge PM to recognise devastating impact

– Anti-Gatwick campaigners and 5 senior MPs deliver a letter to 10 Downing Street at 2pm Monday 23rd March

– They urge government to recognise the strength of local opposition to Gatwick Airport over 2^nd runway and changes to flight paths

Handing in letter to 10 Downing Street 23.3.2015

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.

[NB – An additional official complaint has been logged by CAGNE with the Airports Commission on Gatwick’s executive’s behaviour concerning the consultation and London Borough Councils around Heathrow.]

Six local campaign groups opposed to Gatwick expansion and four senior MPs will call on the government today to recognise the devastating impact of a second runway at Gatwick, the lack of local political support and the strength of feeling among local residents against changes to flight paths already in and out of Gatwick.

Organised by Sally Pavey, chair of CAGNE (Communities against Gatwick Noise and Emissions), the group will hand-deliver a letter signed by the chairs of all the groups representing all the areas, Sussex, Kent and Surrey, that surround Gatwick to 10 Downing Street this afternoon.

The text of their letter to the Prime Minister is copied below.

Together, the groups represent tens of thousands of people covering West Sussex, Surrey, East Sussex and Kent with the MPs adding millions to the number of residents represented in these areas.

Speaking about why the groups were coming together today, Sally Pavey said:

“A two-runway Gatwick would devastate the local area and local communities.

“Throughout this process, we’ve been hugely disappointed with Gatwick’s lack of consultation with the local area. CEO Stewart Wingate continues to portray the airport as an ‘easy option’ for expansion, while ignoring the concerns of thousands of local residents and that it will cost the taxpayer billions in infrastructure bills and the devaluation of vast areas of the southeast with aircraft noise.

“It’s time people realised the truth. Gatwick expansion will destroy our local environment, push local services beyond their limits and expose up to 30,000 people to noise for the very first time, all facts ignored by Gatwick’s CEO.”

“If Gatwick refuse to hear us, we hope the Prime Minister and those in government will.”

Crispin Blunt MP and Chair of the MP group that opposes Gatwick commented:

“The unremitting noise pollution being suffered by residents underneath new concentrated flight paths at Gatwick, following the implementation of Precision Navigation in 2013-14, has galvanised local residents groups around Gatwick to stop take-off and landing routes that create unmitigated noise pollution to residents.

“The united message being delivered to the Prime Minister today is that changes to Gatwick’s implementation of Precision Navigation are needed urgently and the last thing local people need is a new runway at Gatwick which would subject thousands of new people to aircraft noise.

Peasant Revolt

Penshurst residents, supported by all the protest groups that surround Gatwick, have raised £100,000 and employed the high profile QC John Steele to serve a Judicial Review on the Civil Aviation Authority. Details here.

In addition an Official Complaint has been made to the Airports Commission

The campaign groups’ visit to Downing Street comes on the same day as CAGNE has made an official complaint to the Airports Commission about the “unethical” actions of Gatwick’s PR team. Letter copied below.

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. See text of an email from Gatwick asking councils around Heathrow to back Gatwick – copied below.

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 authority and local area MPs around Gatwick do not support their plans. It’s no wonder given a second runway would destroy the tranquillity of Sussex, not to mention Gatwick’s complete disregard of local concerns.”

Downing Street visit

The campaign groups will deliver its letter to the door of 10 Downing Street at 2pm on Monday 23^rd March

Local authorities opposed to Gatwick expansion:

§ West Sussex County Council has voted 37 : 26 to switch from support in principle to opposition.

§ Kent County Council previously supported a second runway, now opposes it.

§ Surrey County Council opposes a new runway unless the necessary infrastructure is first provided.

§ Crawley Borough Council has voted 25 :11 to oppose a second runway.

§ Horsham District Council voted 23 : 1 to oppose.

§ Mid Sussex District Council opposes second runway.

§ Mole Valley District Council unanimously oppose.

§ Sevenoaks District Council has decided to oppose.

§ Tandridge District Council has responded reiterating their core strategy to oppose a new runway.

§ Tunbridge Wells District Council has voted 39:1 to oppose second runway.

§ Horley Town Council and East Grinstead Town Council have voted to oppose.

§ Reigate and Banstead Borough has taken a firm decision not to take a decision.

In addition, nearly all the 50 or more parish councils around Gatwick are opposed to a second runway.

Local MPs opposed to Gatwick expansion

Gatwick Coordination Group

§ Crispin Blunt MP (Reigate) – Attending Number 10

§ Sir John Stanley MP (Tonbridge and Malling) – Attending Number 10

§ Charles Hendry MP (Wealden) – Attending Number 10

§ Sir Nicholas Soames MP (Mid-Sussex) – Attending Number 10

§ Sir Paul Beresford MP (Mole Valley)

§ Nick Herbert MP (Arundel and South Downs) – Attending Number 10

The Gatwick Coordination Group’s opposition and response to the Airports Commission consultation was also supported by Rt Hon Francis Maude MP (Horsham).

Sam Gyimah MP (East Surrey) has also opposed Gatwick’s expansion plans.

Contact Sally Pavey 07831 632537

sallypavey@yahoo.com

Letter to the Prime Minister from the Gatwick groups

23rd March 2015Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
Westminster
London
SW1A 2AADear Prime Minister

All Gatwick Campaign Groups – The United Message

This statement of objectives, below, has been developed in response to the existing and potentially negative impacts of airspace changes at Gatwick Airport.The re-organisation of airspace infrastructure around Gatwick has led to the introduction of changes in aircraft routing, based on technology changes in order to increase the runway throughput.The changes have failed to properly take account of the impact of aircraft noise and noise shadows on the communities affected and have failed to meet government policy that is to reduce the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise.More people are now significantly affected by aircraft noise and further use of concentration will only exacerbate this statistic.We, the undersigned, therefore propose the following:

The United Message

To Strongly oppose the building of a new runway at Gatwick Airport.Arrivals• Using PBN to achieve maximum dispersal of flight approach paths without using merge points.
• 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 –

CAGNE East Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions East
LGVS Langton Green Village Society
SPAG Speldhurst Action Group

Letter from CAGNE to the Airports Commission

18^th 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

www.cagne.org

Email cagnegatwick@gmail.com

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

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