Concerns over noise and travel raised in Gatwick consultation
CONCERNS over aircraft noise and public transport links were the most common responses to a consultation into the growth of Gatwick Airport.
But residents were ‘by and large’ supportive of Gatwick’s proposal for 40 million passengers a year by 2020, according to its chief executive.
The draft masterplan also forecast 100 extra flights a day and 13,800 extra jobs by 2020.
The three-month consultation, now closed, was the largest and most extensive ever undertaken by the airport.
More than 260 official responses were received after leaflets and letters were sent to 3,500 households, 400 council members, 43 MPs and 689 businesses.
Ten days of public exhibitions and 12 workshops were held involving 1,700 residents.
Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport, said: “The level of response and participation from members of our local community has been encouraging and people are, by and large, supportive of our plans to grow to 40 million passengers per year on our single runway, two terminal airport.
“An initial review of the responses indicate that, uppermost on people’s minds, are concerns about the impacts that achieving this growth may have on the road and rail network, and whether growth will lead to more aircraft noise. Like us, they want to see more and more passengers using the rail network or public transport to get to and from the airport, and like us they want to see quieter, more fuel efficient aircraft operating at the airport. Our draft master plan looked at those very issues and how they can be managed and we will certainly take a further look at these and other issues brought to our attention.”
An in-depth analysis of the responses will now be undertaken and in February detailed feedback will be published.
Gatwick Airport is due to publish its final masterplan document in June, which will show how it has have incorporated the views of the local community and stakeholders.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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