Election results put Gatwick runway in doubt – so does surprise air quality consultation by Airports Commission
All eleven MPs elected for the constituencies around Gatwick are opposed to a 2nd runway. Most significant is the result from the marginal seat of Crawley (where a high proportion of the residents are employed directly or indirectly at the airport) – a dramatic win for the Conservative anti-runway candidate, the MP Henry Smith, but defeat for the pro-runway Labour candidate, Chris Oxlade (the vote was 22,829 against 16,303). This makes another runway at Gatwick look increasingly doubtful. This solid bloc of anti-runway MPs will make it difficult for the new Government to push through a new Gatwick runway without the support of some minor Parties. And the Lib Dems, UKIP and the Greens are all opposed the runway. Another reason why a Gatwick runway looks less likely is the surprise announcement on polling day by the Airports Commission that they are to hold another (very brief) consultation – on air quality. This is obviously the result of the decision by the Supreme Court that the UK must implement the EU limits on air quality. That may rule out a Gatwick runway, as EU law states that ‘Air quality status should be maintained where it is already good, or improved.’ A new runway would hugely increase the number of road vehicle trips, including lorries. Their emissions would be bound to worsen air quality and would thus be contrary to the EU Directive.
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Election results put Gatwick runway in doubt – so does surprise consultation by Airports Commission
8.5.2015 (GACC – Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)
All eleven MPs elected for the constituencies around Gatwick are opposed to a second runway. Most significant is the result from the marginal seat of Crawley (where a high proportion of the residents are employed directly or indirectly at the airport) – a dramatic win for the Conservative anti-runway candidate, the MP Henry Smith, but defeat for the pro-runway Labour candidate. [ The voting was Henry Smith (Conservative) 22,829. Chris Oxlade (Labour) 16,303 ]
According to Brendon Sewill, GACC chairman: ‘This solid bloc of eleven anti-runway MPs will make it difficult for the new Government to push through a new Gatwick runway without the support of some minor Parties but the Lib Dems, UKIP and the Greens are all opposed.’
Another reason why a Gatwick runway looks less likely is the surprise announcement on polling day by the Airports Commission that they are to hold another consultation – on air quality. This is obviously the result of the decision by the Supreme Court that the UK must implement the EU limits on air quality. That would seem to rule out a third Heathrow runway, but it may also rule out a Gatwick runway. The EU law states that ‘Air quality status should be maintained where it is already good, or improved.’ [Directive 2008/50 ]
Doubling the number of aircraft at Gatwick plus the forecast extra 100,000 cars plus commercial vehicles per day would be bound to worsen air quality and would thus be contrary to the EU Directive.[3]
GACC have pointed out that the increase in road traffic around Gatwick has been underestimated by the Commission because they have ignored induced[4] and catalytic[5] employment. The same point has been made by Transport for London.[6]
The Airports Commission was expected to produce its report in June but this unexpected consultation may well mean a delay. ‘Unanswered questions about pollution and climate change mean that it is now time for the Commission to go back and re-assess the case for no new runway, as they were required to do.’
[1] Henry Smith (Conservative) 22,829. Chris Oxlade (Labour) 16,303
[2] Directive 2008/50
[3] www.gacc.org.uk/the-runway-issue
[4] Extra jobs created when airport workers spend their money.
[5] New firms attracted to the area by a larger airport.
[6] TfL Surface Access document. February 2015.
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All these seats in the Gatwick area have been held by the Conservatives
MPs Crispin Blunt. Reigate.
Sir Paul Beresford. Mole Valley.
Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames. Mid Sussex.
Tom Tugendhat. Tonbridge & Malling. (New MP. Was Rt Hon Sir John Stanley)
Charles Hendry. Wealden.
Henry Smith. Crawley.
Jeremy Quin. Horsham. (New MP. Was Francis Maude )
Sam Gyimah. East Surrey.
Nick Herbert. South Downs
All have expressed strong opposition to a new Gatwick runway
Michael Fallon. Sevenoaks.
Greg Clark. Tunbridge Wells
have also expressed opposition on flight path issues.
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See also
Airports Commission to carry out a new consultation on air quality impact of runway schemes
It is reported that the Airports Commission is now intending to carry out a new public consultation on the the impact of air quality of a new runway. It is thought that the Commission is keen to avert a potential legal challenge to their decision, if the runway would put air quality standards at risk. Only recently the UK Supreme Court ruled that as Britain is still not meeting EU air quality standards, it must quickly produce plans to limit pollution, especially NO2. The FT reports that the consultation would be a very quick, technically focused one, perhaps being completed by the end of May. It is not anticipated to involve any meetings with the general public. Sir Howard Davies is off to become Chairman of RBS, starting that job on 1st September. He joins the RBS board at the end of June. Therefore the runway decision was anticipated during June. If the consultation on air quality is to be thorough enough, and give those consulted adequate time to respond, getting an announcement by the end of June would be very difficult. Parts of the Heathrow area regularly breach air quality limits. Though Gatwick has less of an air quality problem, expanding it to the size Heathrow is now would risk breaching air quality limits – and the Commission should not recommend a development that would mean NO2 limits would be broken.
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