To speak at runway’s open hearing
A host of MPs have been lined up to speak at the hearing of London Gatwick’s new runway plans.
Horsham MP Sir Jeremy Quin is first to speak, with five otherMPstakingpart–Crispin Blunt(Reigate),TomTugendhat (Tonbridge and Malling), Andrew Griffith (Arundel and South Downs), Mims Davies (Mid Sussex), and Greg Clarke (Tunbridge Wells).
Thenextopenhearingison May 2, at the Sandman SignatureHotel,ThreeBridges,starting at 2pm.
Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions [CAGNE] claims Horsham will be impacted the most by the newrunwayaswellasthemodernisation of airspace that will be required to handle 365,000 flights a year.
A CAGNE spokesperson said: “It is not just the increase inaircraftnoise,dayandnight, that Jeremy’s constituents will suffer, along with those of other MPs including those missing from the line-up – Claire Coutinho, Nus Ghani, Gillian Keegan and Henry Smith – but it is also the vast increase in vehiclesontheroads,andinward migration of workers looking foraffordablehousing,increasing the burden on the already insufficient school places and healthcare provision.
“Missing from the MP lineup are: Henry Smith (Crawley, which will be significantly impactedbythedeclineinamenities, low salaries offered by the airport, increase pressure for affordablehousing,anddecline in air quality due to lack of sustainable surface transport); Claire Coutinho (for East Surrey areas already significantly impacted by Gatwick operations);NusGhani(forWealden, an area impacted by arriving aircraft noise which will increase significantly); and GillianKeegan(forChichester,her rural villages already impacted by arriving aircraft, day and night, to the west of Gatwick).
“Obviously we do not know what our MPs will say, but we sincerely hope they reflect their constituents’ opposition tothisnewrunwayatGatwick.”
Openhearingsarewhereindividualscanaddresstheplanninginspectoratesconducting the hearings into whether Gatwick should be permitted to have two runways, under the planning process of a Development Consent Order.
A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “If approved, our growth plans will deliver £1billion to the region’s economy every year, around 14,000 new jobs and vital new global connections. This will benefit thousands of individuals, families and businesses across the regionforgenerationstocome.
“Public scrutiny is a vital part of the planning process and it is important that all views are heard and considered.
"We are delighted with the strongsupportshownbymany local people and businesses during recent hearings, including their desire to see the airport grow for the economic benefit of the area.
"We would like to thank them for their ongoing support. MPs from both sides of the House, local councillors, business groups and trade unions are also supportive.
"Theairport’splansinclude legally binding commitments to ensure noise levels are controlled and investment to improveroadsaroundtheairport, including separating local and airport traffic with flyovers at both terminals. No airspace changes are required as part of the airport’s Northern runway plans.”
Anyone concerned about the environmental impact, locally and globally, from building and operating a new runway at Gatwick, can join CAGNE and others at 9am on April 30 outside the Sandman Signature Hotel, to demonstratetheirconcernbeforethe ClimateChangehearingstarts at 10am.