Letter by Gatwick area MPs opposing Gatwick 2nd runway expansion plans
MP’s from the Gatwick Co-ordination Group have expressed concerns about the rapid growth plans for Gatwick, in their “master plan”. The MPs say more people are negatively impacted by Gatwick’s noise operations than 10 years ago, both close to the airport and many miles away under flightpaths, creating health issues and congestion locally through inadequate infrastructure. They say: “Over the past few years Gatwick Airport has continually under invested in the local amenities and social infrastructure that would be required to support a project of this size and scale. We cannot support expansion of the airport without a comprehensive investment in the local area which would ease pressure on the over-stretched road and rail systems serving the airport. At a time of increasing concern about the environmental impact of global aviation growth, the proposed expansion plans would see a marked increase in carbon emissions, with clearer environmental consequences for us all. … The safeguarding of land for a new full runway is a clear indication that Gatwick has future plans to build a 3rd runway, as well as converting the current standby runway into a second runway.”
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GATWICK CO-ORDINATION GROUP OPPOSE GATWICK AIRPORT MASTERPLAN PROPOSALS
18 July 2019
Press release from the Gatwick Co-ordinator Group, through Tom Tugendhat MP
MP’s from the Gatwick Co-ordination Group have expressed concerns about the rapid growth
plans for Gatwick Airport. This follows Gatwick Airport’s announcement today of expansion plans for what could be a three runway airport.
The MP’s shared the following statement:
“Gatwick has grown significantly over the past decade. It has offered greater numbers of flights to more destinations and created jobs in the process. However, the benefits of growth have not been well distributed with the local community.
More people are impacted by Gatwick’s noise operations than 10 years ago, both close to the
airport and many miles away under flightpaths, creating health issues for local residents and
congestion through inadequate infrastructure.
“Over the past few years Gatwick Airport has continually under invested in the local amenities and social infrastructure that would be required to support a project of this size and scale. We cannot support expansion of the Airport without a comprehensive investment in the local area which would ease pressure on the over-stretched road and rail systems serving the airport.
At a time of increasing concern about the environmental impact of global aviation growth, the
proposed expansion plans would see a marked increase in carbon emissions, with clearer
environmental consequences for us all. We should not be looking at unchecked expansion at our local airports but seeking managed growth that is proportionate to our other national priorities.
The safeguarding of land for a new full runway is a clear indication that Gatwick has future plans to build a third runway, as well as converting the current standby runway into a second runway. With today’s announcement it is now clear that Gatwick Airport’s new owners are determined to push for rapid commercial expansion and aviation growth despite the restrictions imposed upon the airport by its poor transport connections and its rural position adjacent to Green Belt land as well as the arguments made against a third runway at Gatwick in the London Runway Review.
We are keen to enable the airport to make viable returns for its shareholders however this also requires a sustainable and achievable plan for the future of Gatwick Airport which acknowledges the limitations on aviation growth at the site that exist due to local infrastructure, environmental and geographical factors.
Gatwick Airport’s plans to build up to have up to three runways in operation do not represent a sustainable plan for the environment and the local community. It would mean more noise, more carbon emissions, faster climate change, more health problems for local residents and greater congestion. We have written to the Secretary of State to indicate our opposition.”
Sir Paul Beresford MP, Member of Parliament for Mole Valley
Crispin Blunt MP, Member of Parliament for Reigate
The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells
Gillian Keegan MP, Member of Parliament for Chichester
The Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames MP, Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex
Tom Tugendhat MP, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling
CC:
The Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, Member of Parliament for Guildford
Jeremy Quin MP, Member of Parliament for Horsham
Letter to Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport, at the DfT.
From the Gatwick Co-ordination Group of MPs – from the office of Tom Tugendhat MP
18th July 2019
Dear Chris
We are concerned to hear that Gatwick airport, as part of its master plan is proposing to bring the standby runway into routine use. This would be a second runway by any other name and cause many problems for our communities with thousands of people losing sleep and having their lives blighted by noise.
As you know late last year Gatwick airport went to consultation on its master plan and a number of us responded to share the views of the communities we represent. In this document, growth forecasts were provided which indicate that use of the standby runway would see a 51% growth in passenger numbers and a 36% growth in air traffic movements compared to the current position. At a time when the infrastructure in and around the airport is stretched, we are concerned about how deliverable is plans are.
Over the past few years Gatwick airport has continually under invested in the local amenities and social infrastructure that would be required to support a project of this size and scale. We cannot support expansion of the airport without a comprehensive investment in the local area which would ease pressure on the overstretched road and rail systems serving the airport.
In addition, the pressing need to address climate change and environmental issues is in sharp focus and we are concerned that supporting a second runway by default would result in more emissions. This would create health issues for local residents and the growth at the airport over the past 10 years illustrates that the resulting increase in carbon emissions would have clear environmental consequences for us all.
Though we will wait to see the Development Consent Order which is brought forward by the airport we are very concerned about this idea in principle at it is not something which we as local MPs are able to support. Growth at Gatwick airport would mean more noise and emissions and we hope that the Department for Transport will not approve any expansion of the airport.
Best wishes.
Signed by
Sir Paul Beresford MP
Crispin Blunt MP
The Right Honourable Greg Clark MP
Gillian Keegan MP
The Right Honourable Sir Nicholas Soames MP
Tom Tom Tugendhat MP
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See earlier:
Gatwick plans to use emergency runway as 2nd runway, to increase passengers by 50% by 2030
Gatwick has published its Final Master Plan which confirms its plans to use its emergency runway as a second runway, by widening and re-aligning it. Gatwick says it is not considering building another runway to the south of the existing main runway, but wants to keep that land “safeguarded” for up to 25 years, in case it wants another (3rd) runway in due course. It hopes to have the emergency runway brought into use for departures by the mid-2020s. They will start to prepare a planning application for this, which will have to go through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process. Local group GACC commented that Gatwick’s new owners, the Vinci Group, have shown immediate disregard for their local community neighbours. The plans will damage and blight the lives of thousands of residents surrounding the airport, due to the noise and severe effects on a local infrastructure that is already overburdened. The extra flights, including those at night, will have serious impacts on those further away living under flight paths. The proposals to grow the airport’s capacity by between 20% and 50% over the next 10 – 12 years involve not only the 2nd runway, but also use of new technology on the main runway. This will hugely increase the airport’s carbon emissions.
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