Gatwick promises to reduce plane noise (how?) as Forge Wood residents complain it is worse than expected

Forge Wood is a housing development just north east of Crawley and south east of Gatwick airport. They are in an area less than 2 kilometres from the end of the runway.  The development was permitted by a decision of the High Court partly based on a statement by Gatwick Airport Ltd in 2010 that they ‘had not a shred of interest in a new runway.’ (That comment had been made by Sir David Rowlands, former Chairman GAL in a speech to Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee in January 2010.)  The houses would be right under then flight path, if the 2nd runway was built. The noise is already bad, and one new resident who moved there in October 2015 said the planes are a lot noisier than she anticipated and she wants measures to improve the quality of life for locals. Another resident said: “When we bought our house here we didn’t think the noise would be as bad as it is. If we have the window open the noise of the planes stops us from getting to sleep at night and I’ve been woken up at 4, 5 and 6am. We have a problem with planes both taking off and landing.” Strangely the 5,000 or so people who will live in Forge Wood were not included in the Airports Commission’s numbers of those to be badly affected by plane noise from a 2nd runway. Or some other new housing developments.
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Gatwick promises to reduce plane noise as Forge Wood residents complain it is worse than expected

April 10, 2016

By Chris Ballinger (Crawley News)

Forge Wood noisy

….. there is more general stuff about the Arrivals Review …. the section of the article on Forge Wood states:

Liz Bowie, who has lived in Forge Wood since October, says the planes are a lot noisier than she anticipated and she wants the measures to improve the quality of life for locals.

The 55-year-old, from Somerley Drive, said: “When we bought our house here we didn’t think the noise would be as bad as it is.

“If we have the window open the noise of the planes stops us from getting to sleep at night and I’ve been woken up at 4, 5 and 6am.

“We have a problem with planes both taking off and landing. If these measures reduce the amount of noise we have to put up with, then it will make life a lot better for everyone living at Forge Wood.”

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http://www.crawleynews.co.uk/Gatwick-commits-wide-ranging-measures-reduce/story-29055354-detail/story.html

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From “Gatwick Unwrapped – A critical examination of the plans for a second runway at Gatwick.” January 2015

https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Gatwick-Unwrapped-Jan-2015.pdf

An extract, relating to Forge Wood:

19. Noise contours. The Commission estimates that the number of people affected by noise (within the 54 Leq contour – moderate community annoyance) could increase from just under 10,000 to just over 30,000. (Ref: Airports Commission Consultation Document November 2014 paragraph 3.31. 54 leq). A wide range of noise impacts is shown in the Commission’s consultation document, depending on the type of metric used and on the future use of the airport, but they all show that the number of people affected by noise with a new runway would be two or three times as many as at present. (Ref: Permission to build these houses was granted by the High Court, against the wishes of Crawley Borough Council: the judge based his decision partly on assurances given in 2010 by GAL that they had no interest in building a new runway).

20. We will tell the Commission that these figures, however, do not include the 5,000 people who will be moving into the new houses currently being built at Forge Wood, on the north east of Crawley. (These houses were permitted by a decision of the High Court partly based on a statement by Gatwick Airport Ltd in 2010 that they ‘had not a shred of interest in a new runway.’) (Ref: Sir David Rowlands, former Chairman GAL. Speech to Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee January 2010 ). Nor do the figures include the inhabitants of the 500 houses recently given planning permission in Copthorne; nor the inhabitants of the village of Warnham  despite that village being clearly shown under a new flight path from the new runway. (Ref: Airports Commission. Noise: Local Assessment. Chapter 3.2).


 

More  details about Forge Wood

http://www.persimmonhomes.com/forge-wood-10324

Forge Wood off Steers Lane, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 3NH

Forge Wood – an exciting new community

Forge Wood is a new collection of one and two bedroom apartments and two, three, four and five bedroom homes located in the popular town of Crawley. After a great launch we have reserved all of our initially released plots, and have now just released the next plots for sale.

  • A mix of 1 and 2 bed apartments and 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes
  • Brand new health centre, shops, community building and primary school
  • Convenient links to M23 and M25
  • Close to Gatwick airport
  • Surrounded by woodland
  • Good choice of leisure facilities and amenities nearby

Located on the northern edge of Crawley in West Sussex, Forge Wood is part of an exciting new community which, when complete, will offer its residents a primary school, shops, central parkland, a community building and a health centre. Whether you’re a first time buyer, looking to move up the ladder or searching for your perfect family home, Forge Wood is sure to have what you need.

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ALL plots now reserved!

As well as eventually having its own neighbourhood amenities, Forge Wood is also conveniently close to Crawley’s vibrant and established town centre.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside, the town offers a pleasant environment in which to live and work and is proving to be a popular place to call home. Its historic High Street and County Mall shopping centre, together with convenient transport and parking, draws shoppers from all over the area.

Enjoy the leisure facilities close to Forge Wood

Forge Wood is close to a host of great leisure facilities for all ages. Crawley is renowned for its parks and green open spaces which are all linked by the Crawley Millennium Greenway, a circular route around the town for walkers, runners and cyclists. The popular Tilgate Park boasts just over 400 acres of lakes, gardens and woodland, a par 72 golf course and nature centre. There’s also plenty of entertainment to be found nearby: the Hawth Theatre offers a huge programme of events and is set in woodland with an outside amphitheatre, and Crawley Leisure Park, has a 15-screen cinema, bowling, a wide choice of restaurants and a health club.

Close to Gatwick Airport and a wealth of multinational businesses, Crawley has a thriving job market which makes use of the area’s excellent air, rail and road links.