Anger at Gatwick flight path changes causes blossoming of protest across the area
New flight paths introduced by Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL) are causing a wave of protest across large parts of East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey. MPs including Nick Herbert, Francis Maude, Paul Beresford, Crispin Blunt, John Stanley, Greg Clark, and Charles Hendry all report that they are overwhelmed with correspondence from upset constituents. New anti-noise groups, all welcomed and supported by GACC (the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign – the long established community group), have sprung up in Crowborough, Sevenoaks Weald, Tunbridge Wells, Penshurst, Chiddingstone, Beare Green, and Warnham. GAL called an emergency meeting of the airport noise committee (NATMAG) on 29th August to try to calm the situation – before it takes the shine off their extravaganza campaign for a 2nd runway. The public annoyance and anger have been caused not only by the ADNID flight path trial, but also new concentrated departure flight paths over Holmwood, Brockham and Reigate, and also over Penshurst and Tunbridge Wells. There have also been more, and lower, arrivals over parts of Kent and East Sussex – and fears there of a concentrated merge point in future.
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Gatwick in a Spin over Angry Residents
1.9.2014
New flight paths introduced by Gatwick Airport Ltd are causing a wave of protest across large parts of East and West Sussex, Kent and Surrey.
MPs, including Nick Herbert (Arundel), Francis Maude (Horsham), Paul Beresford (Dorking), Crispin Blunt (Reigate), John Stanley (Tonbridge), Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) and Charles Hendry (Wealden) all report that they are overwhelmed with correspondence from upset constituents.
New anti-noise groups, all welcomed and supported by GACC, have sprung up in Crowborough, Sevenoaks Weald, Tunbridge Wells, Penshurst, Chiddingstone, Beare Green, and Warnham.
Gatwick airport called an emergency meeting on Friday (29th August) of the airport noise committee (NATMAG) to try to calm the situation – before it takes the shine off their extravaganza campaign for a second runway.
The problem has been caused by a new route over Warnham and North Horsham, as well as the introduction of new concentrated departure flight paths over Holmwood, Brockham and Reigate, and also over Penshurst and Tunbridge Wells.
These new concentrated routes (PBN – Performance Based Navigation) are causing great distress compounded by a loss in house values of thousands of pounds.
In Kent and East Sussex anger at an increased number of flights has been magnified by fears of new flight paths for arriving aircraft (and concentration on a single merge point) announced by NATS but with the actual location of the new routes and the merge point kept secret.
GACC are monitoring the situation and advising members, and putting forward constructive solutions (see response to airspace consultation at www.gacc.org.uk).
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For recent news about Gatwick, including many on the noise problem, see
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