Mole Valley MP, Sir Paul Beresford, says we cannot allow the massive environmental & other damage a 2nd Gatwick runway would bring
Sir Paul Beresford, the MP for Mole Valley, has commented on the Gatwick airport push for a new runway that “a 2nd runway has no place in Surrey.” He says: “We are being asked to turn our attention to the mechanics of where a 2nd runway at Gatwick would be positioned and the exact way it would be operated. These questions are not on the forefront of the minds of my constituents. They are asking about the beautiful countryside which would be lost, the dangerous risk of flooding which would be exacerbated, the noise pollution which would become unbearable and the overpopulation of our villages. Gatwick have never provided satisfactory answers to these questions and, until they do, they must expect Mole Valley residents to keep asking them.” He added: “[Constituents think] the airport is big enough as it is, and we simply cannot allow the massive environmental and other damage a second runway would bring.” It would “be the equivalent of dumping an Atlantic City-sized urban sprawl onto the woodlands and fields of Surrey.” The Gatwick consultation ends on 16th May.
Gatwick Airport consultation is at “crucial point” says Mole Valley MP
April 18, 2014
By Gemma Angell
HAVE YOUR SAY: Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford is encouraging residents to have their say on the Gatwick Airport consultation
These are the words of Mole Valley’s MP, who this week urged residents to have their say on Gatwick Airport’s consultation plans over a possible second runway.
Sir Paul Beresford said it was important for the district’s population to “engage as fully as possible” with the planning process and to pay as much attention to the different configurations being proposed, as to the general idea of whether the additional runway is a good idea or not.
Proclaiming this a “crucial stage” in the consultation, Sir Paul urged residents to make it clear to airport chiefs that a “second runway has no place in Surrey”.
He said: “We are being asked to turn our attention to the mechanics of where a second runway at Gatwick would be positioned and the exact way it would be operated.
“These questions are not on the forefront of the minds of my constituents.
“They are asking about the beautiful countryside which would be lost, the dangerous risk of flooding which would be exacerbated, the noise pollution which would become unbearable and the overpopulation of our villages.
“Gatwick have never provided satisfactory answers to these questions and, until they do, they must expect Mole Valley residents to keep asking them.”
He added that the opinion of every resident he has spoken to has always been clear.
“[Constituents think] the airport is big enough as it is, and we simply cannot allow the massive environmental and other damage a second runway would bring,” he said.
“Indeed, when this proposal was last put forward, studies concluded that building a second runway would be the equivalent of dumping an Atlantic City-sized urban sprawl onto the woodlands and fields of Surrey.”
A series of exhibitions hosted by the airport has been arranged to give Mole Valley residents the chance to make their feelings known on the proposals.
The first of these will take place in Charlwood on April 28, running from 4 to 7.30pm at the Parish Hall in The Street. The second is on May 1, at Dorking Halls in Reigate Road, Dorking, also from 4 to 7.30pm.
The Airports Commission has narrowed the remaining possibilities on airport expansion down to two options – either a second runway at Gatwick or a third runway at Heathrow.
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The consultation response form is at
https://research.ipsosinteractive.com/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll
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There is no proper NO option
There is no proper way in which anyone filling in the form can say they do not support any new runway.
The only place on the response form where this is possible is a box buried in Section D which gives the option of “None of these options” to the three schemes proposed.
It is best, if you do not want a 2nd runway, not to fill in any of the other boxes to the other questions on the consultation form, as this may be taken to imply agreement with that runway option.
If you do not want a runway, say this clearly in your own words in one of the text boxes, and only tick the “None of these options” box above.
The local community group opposed to a new runway, GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) says this is “difficult to find and somewhat confusing (it could mean a preference for some other runway location). A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’. “ Brendon Sewill, Chairman of GACC, commented: “They’re frightened too many people would vote ‘No new runway.’ ”
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Earlier:
Gatwick’s 1st runway consultation exhibition – met with spirited opposition by those to be badly affected
April 5, 2014
Gatwick airport has started a period of 6 weeks of consultation on its plans for a 2nd runway. The consultation is something of a PR exercise, as the Airports Commission has only short listed the wide spaced runway option. Gatwick Airport is, for some reason best known to itself, including the narrow spaced runway (which it does not want) in the consultation options. There is a series of exhibitions planned, by Gatwick airport, in a number of towns and villages over the coming weeks, with the first today in Crawley – the town which might be the worst affected by a 2nd runway. There was spirited opposition by people fighting plans for a new runway, and especially those who have recently found themselves under a new “trial” flight path. Feedback from the exhibition was that it was well attended, by several hundred people, many of whom appeared to be against a new runway. One of their questions was how to fill in the forms, to clearly convey their opposition to any runway – there is just one box people can tick, on the last page, in Section D, “None of these options.” Click here to view full story…
GACC describes Gatwick consultation as “plush and bogus” – it gives no proper chance to say “no” to a new runway
April 4, 2014
The consultation published by Gatwick Airport today is described by GACC (the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) as ‘plush but bogus.’ It is plush because no expense has been spared in an attempt to make a new Gatwick runway look inevitable. But it makes no economic or environmental sense to build a new Gatwick runway when Stansted is not forecast to be full until around 2040. It is bogus because the Airports Commission has already ruled out Option 1, the close-parallel runway. GACC’s objections remain as strong as ever. They will campaign vigorously against any new runway. The consultation document contains no maps showing future flight paths – which is an issue of huge significance to local people. It also ignores the inconvenient issue of necessary increases in landing fees, to pay for a runway + terminal. The consultation is deeply flawed, as it gives no proper option to oppose any new runway. There is merely one small option of “None of these options” buried in its section D. That is difficult to find and somewhat confusing (it could mean a preference for some other runway location). A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’.
Click here to view full story…
Gatwick consultation published: A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’
April 4, 2014
Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) has put forward 3 options for a 2nd runway at Gatwick and is now asking for comment from the public to its consultation. They key omission in their consultation is a proper option to say NO to any new runway. A proper consultation would have given the public a straightforward chance to say ‘No’ at the start of the response form. As it is, there is a small box buried in section D with the option of “None of these options”. Gatwick is asking people to choose between a narrow spaced runway (something the airport does not want, as it would not be practical – so it cannot be considered a serious option) and whether a wide spaced runway(1045 metres south of the existing runway) should be used for both landings and take offs, or for just landings or take offs, at one time. The Airports Commission has effectively already ruled out the narrow spaced runway, so its inclusion in the consultation seems to be a bit of a PR exercise. The purpose of the consultation is to help Gatwick get their runway plans approved, and if possible, keep public opposition to a minimum. Consultation ends 16th May (which is the date all runway proposals must be submitted to the Airports Commission).
Click here to view full story…
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