Standing room only at huge Gatwick protest meeting – definite “NO” to new flight paths or 2nd runway
GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) organised a protest meeting on 22nd November in north Crawley. It was standing room only, with a huge gynmasium with space for up to 1,000 packed. People had come from areas near Gatwick, and up to 25 miles away – to express their intense opposition both to the flight path changes that Gatwick has recently inflicted on them, and to plans for a 2nd runway. The atmosphere at the meeting was up-beat, positive, angry and determined that Gatwick will not ruin their areas and their homes, or reduce their quality of life. Five MPs addressed the meeting (Nicholas Soames, Crispin Blunt, Henry Smith, Charles Hendry and Paul Beresford) with message of support read out from Francis Maude and Sir John Stanley, neither of whom could attend. The meeting was chaired by Helyn Clack (Surrey County Council), and addressed by the Mayor of Crawley, Brenda Smith. Asked by GACC whether people backed a new runway, or backed new flight paths, the response was a loud, unanimous “NO”. The meeting ended with cheerful singing of a new song – “What Shall We Do With Gatwick Airport?” (to the tune of the similar “Drunken Sailor.”)
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Part of the crowd filling the sports hall.
One part of the crowd, listening to the speakers (with frequently outbursts of applause)
Crispin Blunt says on Twitter: |”With Sir Nicholas Soames, the other local MPs and 800+ protestors against Gatwick expansion…. Great organisation by GACC. Tapping into real anger against GAL. Both 2nd runway & new noise nuisance.”
Part of the crowd with their “No” signs, voting against a Gatwick 2nd runway, and against new flght paths.
The air hostesses and the pilot went through the safety drill, pointed out the safety drill – and advised on how to deal with nausea caused by airport propaganda…
More photographs below ……
All local MPs speak out against Gatwick 2nd runway at packed protest meeting
Five MPs were on the platform, and 3 more sent messages of support, at a mass protest meeting on Saturday 22 November organised by the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC). All of the 8 MPs from around Gatwick attended or sent messages. This helps disprove the assumption in some national newspapers that Gatwick would politically be the easiest option for a new runway. The MPs were united in expressing their concern about new flight paths and about the threat of a 2nd runway. Extracts from their speeches and messages are copied here. Up to 1,000 people crammed into the meeting in Crawley, and were welcomed by 3 racy air hostesses, and by the Mayor of Crawley, Cllr Brenda Smith who later, speaking as the local councillor, expressed her deep-felt opposition to a new runway. Some 20 national and local environmental groups set up stands around the hall and answered questions from anxious members of the public. Questions from the floor were answered by a panel of experts from a range of organisations. The participants unanimously held up large cards saying NO when asked if they were in favour of new flight paths, and held up the NO cards again when asked if they were in favour of a 2nd runway.
Extracts from MPs’ speeches and messages
Cabinet member Rt Hon Francis Maude (Horsham) was abroad on Government business but sent a message: ‘As you know, I have always opposed a second runway at Gatwick. We all know that there are big advantages for our area in having a successful airport as a centre for jobs and business, and I support Gatwick’s expansion as a single runway airport. That remains my view.’
Crispin Blunt MP (Reigate) told the meeting why he had organised the Gatwick Co-ordination Group of MPs – because a second runway would be a ‘disaster for surrounding communities and environment.’ Many areas are being ‘appallingly affected by PRNAV’[the new system of concentrated flight paths].
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex). ‘A second runway would be a disaster for our local environment. … 120,000 extra people – where they are expected to go is beyond me…. The London to Brighton railway line is already at full capacity – impossible to upgrade sufficiently. .. We must oppose this with all the power we have.’
Henry Smith (Crawley) noted that ‘public opinion in Crawley is divided. … There would be a significant impact on housing and infrastructure – school places, GP surgery sizes, healthcare – a need for a new hospital. … Gatwick have not made the case for expansion here.’
Sam Gyimah (East Surrey) sent a message: New flight paths have caused misery for my constituents, which is why I have called for Gatwick to abandon its implementation of the PRNAV system. I would like to congratulate GACC for organising this meeting, and your ongoing work to hold Gatwick to account over these changes and the possibility of a second runway, which could cause significant environmental damage and pressure on local infrastructure.
SirJohn Stanley (Tonbridge) sent this message: ‘I am totally opposed to Gatwick’s new flight path proposals which will make the already intolerable noise disturbance still more intolerable. I am also totally opposed to a second runway at Gatwick.’
Charles Hendry (Wealden) commented on ‘the extraordinarily huge meeting here today. … Gatwick has not been straight with us and are not good neighbours. If they are not good neighbours today, then the possible doubling in size is intolerable. A second runway does not make economic sense and it does not make environmental sense.’
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley) told the meeting that a second runway would mean‘putting a city on Gatwick’….’public transport links are already overburdened’… ‘M25 is a parking lot’………’national businesses are not impressed with Gatwick’s proposal.’
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The main message from GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)
The hostesses setting the scene for the meeting.
Part of the “Plane Wrong” stall – the group affected by planes north of Gatwick in the Holmwoods etc.
Part of the “Gatwick Obviously NOT” stall, from the East Sussex and Kent areas
One of the comments from people very badly affected by the Gatwick/NATS flight path trial over the Warnham area this summer (called ADNID)
Part of the CAGNE (Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions) stall
Stop Airport Expansion message, on the Greenpeace stall
Video: Sally Pavey (CAGNE and GACC speaking about the meeting)
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The Gatwick Song
What shall we do with Gatwick Airport?
to the tune of “What shall we do with the drunken sailor?”
Verse 1.
What shall we do with Gatwick Airport?
What shall we do with Gatwick Airport?
What shall we do with Gatwick Airport?
All day, night and morning.
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Show ‘em that the runway is a non-starter.
Show ‘em that the runway is a non-starter.
Show ‘em that the runway is a non-starter.
Never going to happen.
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(Refrain)
No Way, second runway
No Way, second runway
Never Never Never
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Verse 2.
What shall we do with the noisy flight paths?
What shall we do with the noisy flight paths?
What shall we do with the noisy flight paths?
All day, night and morning
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Keep on protesting ‘til they stop them.
Keep on protesting ‘til they stop them.
Keep on protesting ‘til they stop them.
All day, night and morning
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(Refrain)
No Way, second runway
No Way, second runway
Never Never Never
–
Verse 3.
What shall we do with Sir Howard Davies?
What shall we do with Sir Howard Davies?
What shall we do with Sir Howard Davies?
All day, night and morning.
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Bump him upstairs with a brand new title.
Bump him upstairs with a brand new title.
Bump him upstairs with a brand new title.
If he says ‘No Runway’.
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(Refrain)
No Way, second runway
No Way, second runway
Never Never Never
–
Verse 4.
What shall we do with Stewart Wingate?
What shall we do with Stewart Wingate?
What shall we do with Stewart Wingate?
All day, night and morning.
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Put him on a plane with a one-way ticket.
Put him on a plane with a one-way ticket.
Put him on a plane with a one-way ticket.
All the way to China
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(Refrain)
No Way, second runway
No Way, second runway
Never Never Never
–
(Refrain)
No Way, second runway
No Way, second runway
Never Never Never
END
Nearly thousand turn out to protest airport expansion
22 November 2014
It was standing room only as around 1,000 people [at least 600 – could be up to 900] met in Crawley to oppose the building of a second runway at Gatwick Airport.
The meeting, organised by the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, was held at the Apple Tree Centre, Ifield Avenue, this afternoon (Saturday November 22).
Among the speakers were Brendon Sewill, founder of GACC, Sir Nicholas Soames MP, Crispin Blunt MP, mayor of Crawley Brenda Smith and Crawley MP Henry Smith.
Residents from all over Sussex packed into the centre where the environmental and economic consequences of expansion at Gatwick were discussed.
Some attendees were opposed to the building of a new runway anywhere in the south east while others were more focussed on Gatwick.
But all of them had concerns about noise, pollution and the effect expansion would have on the area’s already stretched infrastructure.
Gatwick and Heathrow were shortlisted by Sir Howard Davies and the Airports Commission for expansion and a final recommendation will be made to the government in July 2015.
A public consultation into the shortlist has been launched and residents have been called on to make sure they take part.
The consultation documents can be downloaded at the Airports Commission website.
Information about how to respond to the consultation is at the end of the document.
Responses should be emailed to airports.consultation@systra.com or posted to: Airports Commission Consultation, Freepost RTKX-USUC-CXAS, PO Box 1492, Woking, GU22 2QR.