Armed Forces Day 27th June

Invitation
Please see below details of the upcoming “Armed Forces Day” to be held on 27th June at Queens Square, Crawley.

From 11am there will be entertainment including live music from singer talent Eve Lily Ozmen and the Ronnie Scott’s Rejects, plus sets from London Swing Dance Society.

Refreshments will also be available to purchase with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion.

For up-to-date details visit
website www.crawley.gov.uk/events
and
website www.armedforcesday.org.uk

Armed Forces Day:
Raises public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces Gives the nation an opportunity to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving troops to service families and from veterans to cadets.

Armed Forces Day Poster

Crawley Borough Council
Town Hall
The Boulevard
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 1UZ

phone tel (01293) 438000
fax fax (01293) 511803
Facebook www.facebook.com/crawleycouncil

Police Newsletter

Crawley Police Newsletter – Crawley North
16th April 2015

Police Newsletter 20-06-2015

Mark Farrell
email mark.farrell@sussex.pnn.police.uk
phone 07810 677745

Bettina Long
email bettina.long@sussex.pnn.police.uk
phone 07717 596553


Facebook Crawley-Police
website www.sussex.police.uk

Gatwick Airport – Crawley News

More Passengers Using Airport Ahead of Expansion Decision
17th June 2015 – Crawley News


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An extra 200,000 passengers used Gatwick Airport in another recording breaking month.

In the final set of traffic figures before the Airports Commission’s expected decision on whether it can build a second runway, Gatwick has announced 3.6 million passengers travelled through the airport in May.

This is an additional 199,000 passenger, a 5.8 per cent increase on the same month last year and the 27th consecutive month of growth. Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport’s CEO, said: “Gatwick ’s record growth continues to prove greater competition is working for passengers and businesses.

“Choosing airport competition over monopoly is the only answer that is right for the whole of the UK. “Expanding Gatwick would enhance competition, meaning Gatwick grows, Heathrow improves and every part of the UK benefits from a stronger network of competing airports.”

The largest percentage growth, 17.6 per cent, came from North Atlantic routes. This was driven largely by the success of the Norwegian Air Shuttle routes to New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Last month also saw other long haul destinations grow with the United Arab Emirates recording a rise of 11.3 per cent.

This was due to the world’s largest aircraft, the A380, having served Dubai since March 2014. European routes increased by 6.2 per cent with the fastest growing location being Madrid, rising by 46.5 per cent, and Berlin at 43 per cent.

Gatwick Airport – Crawley Observer

Report on Second Runway Delayed
17th June 2015 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Observer Reporter
email crawleyobserver@jpress.co.uk
phone 01293 845058

The government will not respond to the report of the commission looking at airport expansion until the end of the year.

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, will recommend whether a second runway at Gatwick Airport or a third at Heathrow is the best option for airport expansion in the south east later this month. However, the Financial Times has reported that ministers will not issue a formal response until Christmas.

According to the FT, a Whitehall official said there would be no immediate response beyond a cursory acceptance of the report by senior ministers.

Aviation executives had expected a final government response in the late summer.

A number of local MPs including Jeremy Quin (Horsham) and Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) have voiced their opposition to a second runway at Gatwick.

Gatwick Airport – Crawley News

Airport Spends 2m on Soundproofing
10th June 2015 – Crawley News


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Gatwick Airport has spent more than £2 million on noise insulation, with 730 households signing up to the scheme.

Airport bosses announced plans last year to pay for double glazing and loft insulation for thousands of homes on flight paths affected by noise.

So far 730 households have received £3,600 in acoustic insulation, with £2.35 million spent in total.

The scheme forms part of the air port’s strategy to minimise noise, mitigate against its effects and compensate those most affected.

In total, Gatwick’s has set aside £7.2 million for the three year programme that would potentially mean more than 2,000 homes insulated. The airport has five separate teams installing
customised insulation, including double glazing and acoustic loft insulation.

Noise

In February 2014 Gatwick more than doubled the number of homes across Surrey, Sussex and Kent that are eligible by increasing the noise boundary by 15km at each end of the runway.

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: “We are acutely aware that aircraft noise is an important issue to many. “We are not aware of any other airport in the world offering a noise compensation scheme as generous and innovative as our acoustic insulation offer.

“Noise is a key factor in the airport expansion debate and we will not pretend that more flights will equal less noise.

While it is true that Gatwick expansion will affect less than five per cent of those affected by Heathrow, we want to ensure that we help and support those most in need.”

Gatwick Airport – Crawley Observer

Campaign Goes to Westminster
10th June 2015 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Tim Harris
email tim.harris@jpress.co.uk
phone 01403 751225

rsz_handing_in_flight_path_letter_at_dft

Protesters Outside the Department of Transport

Fourteen action groups based near Gatwick Heathrow or London City Airport took their complaints to central Government on Monday June 1st.

They say tens of thousands of people have been badly affected by noise from experimental changes to airline flight paths.

Campaigners are calling for the Government to change its policies to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on residents, and to put residents’ health, wellbeing and family life before aviation industry profits.

A statement from the joint campaign group said: “The airspace changes are part of a Europe-wide programme to make more effective use of airspace and are now impacting the whole of the UK. They are designed to enable airlines to save fuel, to allow aircraft to land at, and depart from airports more efficiently but give little, if any, consideration to the impact the changes have, and will have on communities.

“In the UK Gatwick and London City have been earmarked as first in line for the changes. Heathrow is expected to have its changes in place by 2019 with national changes by 2020.

Residents fear that the changes will result in excessive concentration of aircraft along selected routes with no consideration for the impact the changes have on health and wellbeing of residents.”

Brendon Sewill, chairman of Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, said:’We cannot see how any airport expansion can go forward with the anger that is being vented at all airport operators due to the current airspace changes.

“All the protest groups coming together should send a clear message to the Government that residents are fed up with being ignored and that they will not be disregarded.”

Copies of their joint statement, endorsed by groups representing communities of Kent, Mid Sussex, East Sussex, West Sussex, Middlesex, Berkshire, Surrey, and London boroughs, were handed to the Department for Transport and to the Prime Minister.

Gatwick News – Crawley Observer

£2m to Combat Aircraft Noise
10th June 2015 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Observer Reporter
email crawleyobserver@jpress.co.uk
phone 01293 845058

gatwick-airport_53_1468160a

Gatwick Airport has spent £2.35 million on an insulation scheme for homes affected by aircraft noise.

Some 730 households have signed up to receive €3,600 of insulation each.

Gatwick has set aside £€7.2 million for the three year programme that would potentially see just more than 2,000 homes insulated.

The scheme is being rolled out over three years for homes around the airport in areas such as Lingfield, Charlwood, Burstow and Newchapel.

The homes are fitted with insulation and double glazing.

Gatwick CEO Stewart Wingate said: “We are acutely aware that aircraft noise is an important issue to many in our local communities and we are determined to do what we can to minimise the
amount we generate, mitigate against its affects and compensate households that are impacted most.

“We are not aware of any other airport in the world offering a noise compensation scheme as generous and innovative as our acoustic insulation offer.

“Noise is a key factor in the airport expansion debate and we will not pretend that more flights will equal less noise.

While it is true that Gatwick expansion will affect less than five per cent of those affected by Heathrow, we want to ensure that we help and support those most affected with this scheme, plus the direct compensation we have committed to should we be chosen for expansion.”

Gatwick Airport – Crawley News

PM’s ‘new enthusiasm’ over Gatwick runway welcomed
Business chief ‘excited’ over report but campaigners cast doubt
3rd June 2015 – Crawley News


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Lisa Boardman
email editor@crawleynews.co.uk

Reports that Prime Minister David Cameron is warming to the idea of a second runway at Gatwick have been hailed as an exciting development by a local business leader.

But a local campaigner leading the fight against the airport’s expansion says he remains confident that neither Gatwick nor Heathrow will end up getting an additional runway.

A recent report in The Guardian claimed that Mr Cameron was “more enthusiastic” about a second runway at Gatwick than a third at Heathrow.

Excited

Jeremy Taylor, chief executive of Gatwick Diamond Business, which represents local businesses, says he was excited to hear about the Prime Minister’s reported support.

He said: “In my view, all of us should be working to support the second runway at Gatwick and make sure we get the infrastructure investment that is needed for all of us to benefit.

“We can see that with improvements to the M23 and M25, the developments to the rail system that will treble capacity on the Brighton Mainline, and new bus routes connecting those areas that do struggle with higher unemployment, much is already being done to bring improvements.

“We need to see politicians working together for the good of the majority, most of whom support the runway, rather than running scared from a few self serving and ill-informed NIMBYs. ”

But Brendon Sewill, chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, an environmental group opposed to the airport’s expansion, is unconcerned that Mr Cameron is reported to favour
Gatwick.

He said: “I think it’s still all to play for. Some people are convinced it’s Heathrow, some are convinced it will be Gatwick, but there will be huge problems at either airport. We think the conclusion will be no runway will be needed. This is the conclusion that is reached each time.

“The airlines are using bigger aircraft so there will be no need for more runways.”

Mr Cameron’s reported warming to Gatwick comes just weeks before the Airports Commission’s final report on which airport it recommends for expansion.

The Government will make the final decision but it would prove highly controversial if it went against the commission’s recommendation.

Mr Sewill remains worried about pollution levels should Gatwick be chosen.

Mr Taylor believes such stories, which are based on information from unnamed “sources ”, should be “taken with a pinch of salt”. But he added: “In this case, I think it’s interesting to see the story come out so close to the publication of (the Airports Commission’s) findings and also during the consultation period on air quality.

“What matters is that politicians of real stature like the PM, George Osborne and Boris Johnson are being seen to align themselves with Gatwick as they understand that Heathrow is not
deliverable, either politically, environmentally or financially.

“The local MPs who have bowed to the minority, yet vocal, view against Gatwick are going to have to tread carefully.”

A Gatwick spokesman also welcomed the Guardian’s report. He said: “As the expansion debate enters the final stages, it is clear there is growing support and momentum behind Gatwick as the best and only deliverable option.”

Gatwick News – Crawley Observer

Runway Could Affect Air Quality for 50,000
3rd June 2015 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Joshua Powling
email crawleyobserver@jpress.co.uk

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Conservative Richards Burrett

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Labour’s Crawley Borough Council leader Peter Lamb


More than 50,000 Crawley residents could be affected by poorer air quality if a second runway is built at Gatwick.

Both Crawley Borough Council (CBC) and West Sussex County Council (WSCC) have called for strong mitigation measures to offset any impact in their responses to an Airports Commission consultation on air quality.

County councillors expressed disappointment at the short consultation window and raised concerns over the impact of pollution from aircraft and road vehicles on residents near the airport at a Full Council meeting late last month.

Richard Burrett (Con, Pound Hill and Worth) said: “I’m pleased that we have taken a very strong line on this. “I’m concerned about the fact that we are now talking about 21,000 properties being predicted to have higher concentrations of nitrogen dioxide than at present, and 62 at risk due to the scale and increase in emissions.

“That cannot be right and I think we need to send a very clear message on that, and in the event of airport expansion we do need to ensure that figures come down.”

CBC’s response drew attention to the fact that more than 50,000 people could be affected by poorer air quality if the Airports Commission recommends Gatwick for expansion.According to Kings College London, which validates the council’s figures, air quality data used in the commission’s assessment looks’suspect’.

The council has called for more work to see if the data can be used or should be discounted.

Peter Lamb (Lab, Northgate), leader of CBC, said: “It’s vital that all of the information on air quality is available so potential impacts can be mitigated and an informed decision on airport expansion can be made.”

He also said they would work with all parties to mitigate any potential impact on Crawley and its residents.

Gatwick News – Crawley Observer

Motorist Charge at Airport Not Being Promoted
27th May 2015 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Joshua Powling
email crawleyobserver@jpress.co.uk

Gatwick Airport, aerial view of new passenger bridge at Pier 6 and North Terminal Apron including runways, June 2005, Image ref CGA00963, A.C

The idea of introducing a congestion charge if a second runway is built at Gatwick ‘is not being promoted’ by West Sussex County Council.

But it is one of several Possible mitigation measures mentioned in a draft report produced by the authority in response to the Air Ports Commission’s consultation on air quality.

If a second runwaY at Gatwick is picked ahead of expansion at Heathrow West Sussex County Council has called for action to achieve high Public transport access and congestion-free road access.

However, a spokesperson for Gatwick said that should a second runway be given the go-ahead, it has guaranteed that air quality levels would remain within the legal limits in the area close to the airport.

This is something that it believes could be achieved without the introduction of a congestion charge.

But a charge for motorists travelling to the airport is mentioned by the county council as one of the additional mitigation measures that’could be implemented’ but has not been specifically highlighted by Gatwick Airport Limited.

The report reads: “It is not clear how effective a congestion charge could be. An assessment on demand management measures in reducing car use at Heathrow Airport was carried out for another module of the Airports Commission’s assessment.

“Whilst the outcome of that assessment cannot be directly transferred to a different airport, the overall conclusions that the imposition of additional charges on car users could have a significant impact on car mode share and overall traffic demand, remain valid.

“Depending on the scale of charge imposed, and the extent of the scheme (that is whether it targets passengers, employees and/or taxis), it is
possible that traffic generation with the expanded Gatwick Airport could be reduced to 2013 levels.”

However at a full council meeting on Friday John O’Brien, the county council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “That’s not something we are Promoting at this point of time.”

He said the report had Put forward a range of measures, and if a second runway did get the go ahead they and other agencies would have to look at what were the appropriate mitigation measures.

This followed a question from Brian Quinn, who asked for assurances that if a charge was introduced it would not be imposed on Crawley residents.

Preferred option announcement

The Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, is set to make a recommendation to central Government about where airport expansion should take place in the South East. The three shortlisted options are either a third runway at Heathrow, an extension to the northern runway at Heathrow, or a second runway at Gatwick. An announcement on the Preferred option was expected to be made after the general election’