CAGNE points out that Gatwick’s planned local consultation events ignore most areas worst impacted by noise
Local group CAGNE has written to Gatwick to express their concern that the consultation events for the Gatwick Master Plan, including adding over 30% more flights per year, are being held in peripheral areas that are not constantly, if at all, affected by aircraft noise. The Gatwick “Master Plan”, launched on 18th October, reveals plans to use the emergency runway and continue to safeguard the land for a 2nd runway, providing details of a three-runway airport eventually. CAGNE commented that the 5 consultation events planned are not in the areas where people will be experiencing the worst noise problems, or those getting noise for the first time. The events are in areas like Crawley, Brighton and Croydon – where there may be support for the expansion, and people are not affected negatively. Many people in areas to be affected in future are probably totally unaware of what is being proposed by the airport. By holding events in areas like Croydon, Gatwick hopes it can manipulate the responses to their loaded questionnaire whilst avoiding holding events in affected areas as Reigate, Redhill, Dorking, Alfold, Lingfield and Copthorne. Everyone in areas to be affected, including the elderly and those without internet access, should be given full information.
.
Tweet
Gatwick’s plans ignore those impacted the most by noise!
20.10.2018
(CAGNE press release – Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions)
CAGNE has written to Gatwick today to show unhappiness that the consultation events for the Gatwick Master Plan* are being held in peripheral areas that are not constantly, if at all, affected by aircraft noise.
Gatwick launched its 5/15-year master plan last week (18th October) in it detailing the usage of the emergency runway and safeguarding the land for a second runway, providing details of a three-runway airport.
CAGNE comment:
“These are the very communities that need to participate as they will be the ones that will take the full brunt of Gatwick’s increase in noise and may be totally unaware of what is being proposed by the airport.
It is simply not acceptable for Gatwick to think they can get away with holding events in Brighton and Croydon so that they can manipulate the responses to their loaded questionnaire whilst avoiding holding events in affected areas as Reigate, Redhill, Dorking, Alfold, Lingfield and Copthorne.
If we thought the whole proposal of using the emergency runway was underhand, Gatwick would seem to be going out of their way to ignore the communities that suffer the severity of Gatwick aircraft noise now 24/7 with no respite. These communities will find themselves facing over 80,000 extra flights a year if Gatwick are successful at manipulating the responses, the local authorities who they have already presented their plans to in Crawley.
CAGNE demand that every parish that is impacted to the west, east, north and south have an event and that every member of these areas be written to by Gatwick with a copy of the master plan so not to discriminate against the elderly or those without the internet.”
The consultation runs for 12 weeks – finishing at 5pm on 10th January 2019.
These are their public events, where people can find out more :
- Saturday 3 November – 15:30-19:30
The Barn, Causeway, Horsham, RH12 1HE - Thursday 8 November – 15:30-19:30
Centrale Shopping Centre, Croydon, CR0 1TY - Saturday 10 November – 11:00-17:00
Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2SS - Monday 12 November – 15:30-19:30
Churchill Square Shopping Centre, Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2RG - Saturday 17 November – 11:00-1700
County Mall Shopping Centre, Crawley, RH10 1FG
*Master plan detailed – https://www.gatwickairport.com/globalassets/business–community/growing-gatwick/draft-masterplan-consultation-doc_18oct.pdf