Campaign launched against airport plan
20th September 2019 – Crawley Observer
By Staff Reporter
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Campaigners have announced they have launched a major campaign to challenge Gatwick Airport’s Master Plan.
Under the banner Gatwick’s Big Enough community groups around Gatwick have joined forces with Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign to call Gatwick to account over its proposals.
The group said the plan proposed to create an airport as big as Heathrow is today.
An increase in aircraft movements in the next ten years to 390,000 per annum (1,050 or more per day) and passenger numbers to 70 million per annum (190,000 or more per day).
The group it would bring increased misery to thousands of people through noise, pollution and impacts on local infrastructure.
The plans would also bring a significant increase in carbon emissions caused by the additional flights, the group claimed.
The campaign has got off to an early start with challenges to Gatwick’s use of the planning permitted development processes.
The initial submission to the Planning Inspectorate for Gatwick’s Stage Two, the expansion and active use of the emergency/northern runway, has been made and our teams are now in the process of preparing challenges to these proposals.
Campaign group chairman Peter Barclay, said: “Whilst this growth plan may be within the airport’s own boundaries the negative impact on communities extends many miles from Gatwick’s borders.
“In a society where there is increasing awareness of the downside of aviation activities our members want us to ensure these developments are properly contained.”
A Gatwick Airport spokes person said: “Gatwick recognises that future growth should be both economically and environmentally sustainable and is committed to delivering any future growth plans in this way.
“We will carry out a number of detailed studies to assess the impacts and benefits of our standby runway plan on our local region and will be consulting on the plans next year.
“The airport also recognises the importance of faster global and local action from all sectors to tackle climate change, and any future growth will be delivered in line with Government policy.’
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