‘No space for a new runway’
A CAMPAIGN group which has been fiercely critical of noise levels Gatwick has praised the airport’s approach to aviation policy.
An assurance that the airport would not seek an increase in the Government’s forthcoming consultation into night flights was welcomed by the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC).
Brendon Sewill, chair of GACC, hailed the realistic approach following a meeting with chairman Sir David Rowlands and chief executive Stewart Wingate.
Mr Sewill said: “There has been a lot of speculation in the press about the need for new runways. Most of it is naïve and exaggerated.
“Airport enthusiasts need to realise that the latest Department for Transport forecasts show that the London airports will not be full until 2030. If the recession persists or the Euro collapses, the date may be much later. It would make no environmental or commercial sense to build a new runway anywhere in the South East while there is still spare capacity.
“Climate change targets cannot be met unless the current ban on new runways is kept until 2050.”
“Gatwick is a small airport with no space for an efficient new runway.”
A legal agreement made in 1979 between the airport and West Sussex County Council rules out a second runway until at least 2019.
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Weather for Crawley
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
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