Crawley Observer – Gatwick News

Concern Crawley’s voice is being “under-heard”
Council urged to ‘get off the fence’ over expansion
19th November 2014 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Karen Dunn
email karen.dunn@jpress.co.uk
phone 01293 845058

Crawley Borough Council has been called on to “get off the fence” and oppose expansion at Gatwick.

The message came from Ifield residents whose homes would be 600 metres from the airport if Gatwick’s bid to build a second runway south of the current one was accepted.

Jenny Frost, of Ifield Green, said she felt “queasy and disappointed” when she heard Gatwick had made it on to the Airports Commission’s short-list for expansion.

And she called on the council to help make the town’s voice heard by letting residents know whether it was for or against the building of a second runway.

Jenny, who has lived in Crawley for 45 years, said: “They have been entirely sitting on the fence and I think it is an unreasonable position to take.”

She added: “The Crawley voice is being under-heard and is being under-stated and Crawley is the town that is going to be really affected.”

Her concerns were shared by Peter Jordan, of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, who also lives in Ifield Green. He said: “We would like to see them come off the fence and oppose the new runway.

“The reason they are sitting on the fence is they haven’t studied the information.

“They think there’s more to come but there isn’t – all the information is out there.”

As well as her concerns about planes taking off at full throttle so close to her home, Jenny felt some people did not fully appreciate how big an impact a second runway would have on Crawley.

She said: “It’s only when you show people the maps and pictures of where it’s going to be that people wake up and say they didn’t realise it was going to be so big.”

The Gatwick option being considered by the Airports Commission would see a runway, more than 3,000m in length, built to the south of the current runway.

It would mean parts of Manor Royal, including City Place, would be engulfed by the airport, with the boundary coming as far south as County Oak.

While not confirming whether the council would be supporting or speaking out against expansion, a spokesman said it would be putting the views of Crawley residents and businesses first.

He added: “The council has been working with the Airports Commission to put the views and interests of all Crawley residents and businesses on the agenda, and to try to ensure that Crawley will be fully consulted on the implications for Crawley, whether the new runway capacity comes to Gatwick or not.

“We will be participating fully in the consultation on the remaining shortlisted options and will at all times be putting the views of Crawley residents and businesses first.”

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jpco 19-11-14 Jenny Frost and Peter Jordan are very opposed to the expansion of the Gatwick airport. (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-141117-135718001

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