Data on air pollution challenged by group of MPs representing areas around Gatwick

Date added: 28 May, 2015

Questions about the robustness and impact of Gatwick’s proposals have been raised by the Gatwick Coordination Group (GCG) of MPs, which now includes all local long-standing and newly elected MPs around Gatwick. Particular concerns are raised about air quality, and Gatwick’s own emissions modelling, which the GCG described as “inadequate” for failing to capture the impact on the new transport and housing provision in the local area, if a 2nd runway got the go ahead. The report by Jacobs for the Commission, suggests that the impact of an expanded Gatwick would be considerably worse than assessments by Gatwick airport. NOx and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), are estimated to be 50% higher than the initial estimates of emissions suggested by Gatwick. Jacobs’ assessment confirms that Gatwick expansion would cause significant deterioration of air quality for over 51,000 people; officially put “at risk” the health of at least 151 people; and have the highest % increase in NOx emissions (28% up) out of the 3 runway options. Chair of the GCG, Crispin Blunt MP, said: “…Gatwick’s plan would ruin thousands of lives and push local services and infrastructure beyond their limits. There is no economic or practical case for Gatwick to become the same size as Heathrow.”
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GCG Response to Airports Commission Air Quality Consultation.pdf

Reliability of Gatwick data challenged by MPs

28 May, 2015 (Crispin Blunt’s website)

The air quality submission for a second runway at Gatwick is “unreliable” and would lead to a significant deterioration in air quality for the airport’s surrounding communities, a group of Conservative MPs warn.

Questions about the robustness and impact of Gatwick’s proposals have been raised by the Gatwick Coordination Group (GCG), which now includes all local long-standing and newly elected MPs around Gatwick, in response to the Airports Commission’s consultation on air quality. The consultation, which closes on Friday 29th May, is on an assessment of the impact on air quality of each of the Airports Commission’s three shortlisted proposals.

Particular concerns are raised about Gatwick’s own emissions modelling, described as “inadequate” by the GCG for failing to capture the impact on the new transport and housing provision in the local area should a second runway get the go ahead. In contrast, much of the Heathrow transport and housing provision already exists.

The Air Quality Assessment, prepared for the Airports Commission by Jacobs, suggests that the impact of an expanded Gatwick would be considerably worse than assessments made by Gatwick. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), are estimated to be 50% higher than the initial estimates of emissions suggested by Gatwick.

Jacobs’ assessment confirms that Gatwick expansion will:

• Significantly deteriorate the air quality for more than 51,000 people;

• Officially put “at risk” the health of at least 151 people;

• Have the highest % increase in NOx emissions (an unsustainable increase of 28%) out of all shortlisted options.

On publishing their response to the Airports Commission consultation, Chair of the GCG, Crispin Blunt MP, said:

“Gatwick expansion would be a disaster for the local area. It is now clear that Gatwick’s own assessments of the air quality impact of a new runway are completely unreliable.

“This adds to the data already established in the consultation that Gatwick’s plan would ruin thousands of lives and push local services and infrastructure beyond their limits. There is no economic or practical case for Gatwick to become the same size as Heathrow: no labour force, no surface infrastructure and no environmental case either.

“Gatwick is fundamentally the wrong solution, both locally and nationally. It will devastate local communities and provide just a fraction of any additional benefit to the UK compared with Heathrow. It’s time for Gatwick to stand aside.”

GCG Response to Airports Commission Air Quality Consultation.pdf

Members of the GCG (Gatwick Coordination Group)

Following the election on 7th May 2015, the Members of Parliament on the group are now as follows:

• Crispin Blunt MP – Member of Parliament for Reigate (Chairman)

• Sir Paul Beresford MP – Member of Parliament for Mole Valley

• Nus Ghani MP – Member of Parliament for Wealden

• Sam Gyimah MP – Member of Parliament for East Surrey

• Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP – Member of Parliament for Arundel and South Downs

• Jeremy Quin MP – Member of Parliament for Horsham

• Tom Tugendhat MP – Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling

• Henry Smith MP – Member of Parliament for Crawley

• Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP – Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex

http://www.blunt4reigate.com/news/reliability-gatwick-data-challenged-mps

OTHERS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMISSION’S AIR QUALITY REPORT

Pollution estimates go up to 2030, around twenty years before the expanded Heathrow or Gatwick airport would reach full capacity. We expect nitrogen dioxide levels to continue to rise until 2050 as the expanded airport’s operation intensifiy but these increases are not accounted for.

Pollution impacts are depressed by the inclusion of a series of controversial and untested mitigation measures, like a new congestion charging zone. These schemes have not been developed in detail and may not be possible.

The report makes optimistic projections about future car engine technologies reducing the levels of NO2 emissions from the road network.. This is a gamble, not a serious projection.

The report suggests there will be no extra traffic on local roads even after Heathrow or Gatwick vastly increase flights, passenger numbers and freight operation. This is not credible or realistic.

Even after the ultra low traffic levels and futuristic clean engines are factored in the Jacobs report on air quality for the Airports Commission still projects a huge increase in pollution levels. By 2030.

Heathrow NW runway – would worsen air quality (in terms of annual mean NO2 concentrations) of around 47,000 homes, compromising the health of around 121,377 people and costing £10.8m per year [Jacobs report Page 173] through increased numbers of hospital appointments.

Heathrow Hub northern runway – would worsen air quality (in terms of annual mean NO2 concentrations) of around 39,000 homes, compromising the health of around 100,389 people and costing £4.2 million per year through increased numbers of hospital appointments.

2nd Gatwick runway – would worsen air quality (in terms of annual mean NO2 concentrations) of around 21,000 homes, compromising the health of around 51,328 people and costing £4.0 million per year through increased numbers of hospital appointments.

These are high prices to pay in terms of health.

Data on air pollution challenged by group of MPs representing areas around Gatwick

Reliability of Gatwick data challenged by MPs

Members of the GCG (Gatwick Coordination Group)

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