Crawley Observer – Gatwick Airport

Business leaders and politicians consider economical implications of runway decision
26th October 2016 – Crawley Observer

website www.crawleyobserver.co.uk

By Staff Reporter
email crawleyobserver@jpress.co.uk
phone 01403 751200

While campaigners celebrate the government’s decision to back Heathrow for expansion, business leaders and politicians have been left to count the economical cost.

In January 2015, West Sussex County Council voted to oppose expansion at Gatwick, by a margin of 31 councillors to 26. Their stance was echoed by Crawley Borough Council and East Grinstead Town Council.

While the news Heathrow was the government’s preferred choice for another runway was welcomed, the county council recognised this was by no means the end of the story.

In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon (October 25), a spokesman said: ‘We know that today’s announcement will be welcomed by many of our communities who were concerned about the noise and environmental consequences of a second runway at Gatwick.

“However, our role as a county council now is to ensure that we work with the government, Gatwick Airport Limited and our local businesses to mitigate any negative impact of this decision on our county, especially in terms of our economy and any impact on jobs and skills.

“We will also continue to focus our efforts on making the case at a national level for significant investment into our West Sussex infrastructure,which remains very much needed regardless of
this decision.’

At Manor Royal, business leaders were keen to find out what the Heathrow runway announcement would mean for land that had already been set aside for expansion at Gatwick.

steve-speaking

Steve Sawyer

Steve Sawyer, executive director of the Manor Royal Business District (BID) said: ‘We are confident that the current demand for commercial property on Manor Royal business District will continue regardless, although I suspect this won’t be the end of expansion at Gatwick.

“If anything, it will mark the next phase of debate and challenge as Heathrow looks to negotiate the huge financial, political and practical hurdles it needs to overcome.”

BID is home to 500 companies and 30,000 employees. Mr Sawyer said business leaders would now be’seeking clarity on the impact this decision will have”, adding: ‘While this may not be the decision many businesses locally would have wanted, we congratulate the government on finally taking this difficult decision and sending out a message to the world that the UK is open to business.

“Never has that been more important.’ He said the coming months would see BID working closely with the Gatwick Airport team’who have demonstrated the benefits of healthy competition in industry”.

Mr Sawyer added; “It’s very important we all sit down and discuss alternative futures for the area to ensure Manor Royal Business District continues to flourish alongside an international airport providing first-class global connectivity and local economic opportunity.”

A ‘disappointed” Jonathan Sharrock, chief executive of the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership said: ‘We believe that a second runway at Gatwick represents the better option, and would be cheaper and easier to build.

‘The Gatwick economy makes up nearly half of our regional economy and is worth around £23 billion.

We will continue to work very closely with Gatwick to ensure that the airport continues to benefit the region.”

Concerns a lack of expansion would see businesses move elsewhere have proved unfounded in these extremely early stages.

Norwegian Air, which has supported the building of a second runway, said it respected the government’s decision but still planned to go-ahead with investment into Gatwick.

A spokesman said:’Norwegian has always backed Gatwick as the right choice for the UK’s next runway but we respect the decision of the UK government.

Our plans for huge expansion at our Gatwick base and other UK airports remain unchanged and 2017 will see even more new routes, increased flights and brand new aircraft in our growing UK operation.’

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