Gatwick News – Crawley Observer

Anger over airport flyers
22th April 2015 – Crawley Observer
website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

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

Residents opposed to expansion at Gatwick Airport have reacted with anger to the airport’s canvassing of areas around Heathrow.

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Protesters opposed to a second runway at Gatwick

The protest group, Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), spoke out after Gatwick’s chief executive Stewart Wingate said the airport would be delivering 400,000 leaflets in Surrey, Berkshire and London.

The leaflets, entitled Limit Noise over London, draw direct comparisons between expanding Heathrow with Gatwick.

CAGNE chair Sally Pavey said: “This is a costly exercise but simply illustrates that Gatwick can’t find support in the surrounding counties and so have to try persuade Heathrow residents to become ‘nimbys’ and support putting the same misery of Heathrow here in West Sussex countryside.”

The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, is considering two options for expansion at Heathrow: a third runway and an extension of one of its two existing runways. He will make his recommendation to Government in the summer.

A spokesman for Gatwick said:’Airport expansion is a significant issue for local communities but as the debate enters its final stages, thousands of residents are likely to be unaware their lives could be blighted by Heathrow expansion.

“Over 320,000 people – a population the size of Coventry-would be newly affected by noise across Berkshire, West London and Surreys owe feel it is important to shine a
light on this crucial issue.

‘At Gatwick we have never shied away from the fact that expansion will mean more noise – these leaflets and maps show that Gatwick would impact less than 5 percent of the numbers affected by noise at Heathrow. This means that Gatwick will be able to compensate those most affected by paying their council tax each year – something Heathrow can’t begin to do.”

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