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Noise Concerns in Kent

Friday, 28 February 2025 21:10

By Martin Webber

The Tonbridge MP, Tom Tugendhat, has said he will continue to campaign against what he calls "damaging expansion" at Gatwick Airport.

Mr Tugendhat was responding to the Labour government's announcement that it is "minded" to allow an extra 100,000 flights a year at Gatwick - an increase of around 60 per cent.

The government's approval in principle came despite the fact that planning inspectors recommended rejection of the airport expansion. 

The inspectors said the scheme should only go ahead if Gatwick agreed to address noise issues and increase the proportion of passengers travelling to and from the airport via public transport.

Reacting to developments, Tom Tugendhat said: "For over a decade I have been campaigning with so many across Tonbridge, Edenbridge and surrounding villages about the impact of aircraft approaching Gatwick Airport. 
 
"Our corner of West Kent bears the brunt of the environmental impacts, whilst not seeing the economic benefits of expansion.
 
"The Planning Inspectorate decision makes clear some of the issues with this expansion. That is why they haven’t recommended Gatwick’s application be approved. 
 
"I am disappointed that the Government still thinks Gatwick expansion is necessary, and is giving itself more time to force it through.
 
"Its policy states that future growth in aviation should ensure benefits are shared between the aviation industry and local communities, but that isn’t the case at Gatwick.
"The Airport enjoys a 62% increase in passengers. Communities in West Kent suffer a substantial increase in noise.
 
"Much of this area is National Landscape and Greenbelt. If it were a motorway on the ground, it would never be approved. Yet the Labour Government has signalled its desire for a motorway in the sky without accounting for the value of our local landscape.
 
"At the Public Inquiry in May, I gave four conditions which should be essential before any second runway is operational.
1) There should be a ban on all night flights for a full eight-hour period every night.
2) A noise envelope must be agreed with local communities which achieves the government’s policy requirements that noise must be reduced and mitigated as capacity grows and the benefits of growth shared. Without this, the runway should not be operational
3) An enforceable, progressive and material reduction in the emissions and total climate impacts attributable to the airport from a 2019 baseline. Until this is achieved, the runway should not be operational.
4) Direct rail services be reinstated between Tonbridge and Gatwick Airport. There is a case for this without this expansion. Should this go ahead, then the runway should not be operational without it.
 
"I am disappointed, but not surprised, that they don’t seem to be met. It is deeply concerning and I shall continue to campaign against damaging expansion at Gatwick."

The deadline for a final government decision has been extended to October 27th.

The airport wants to upgrade and move its northern runway, which is currently only used for taxiing or as a back up, and make it operational by the end of the decade.

If permission is granted, work would start almost immediately. The £2.2bn expansion will be funded through private investment.

Gatwick has until 24 April to provide new information. Stewart Wingate, Gatwick Airport chief executive, said following the latest announcement that the government has "outlined a clear pathway to full approval later in the year" and that the airport would "engage fully" in the process.

Mr Wingate said: "We stand ready to deliver this project which will create 14,000 jobs and generate £1bn a year in economic benefits. 

"By increasing resilience and capacity we can support the UK’s position as a leader in global connectivity and deliver substantial trade and economic growth in the South East and more broadly. We have also outlined to government how we plan to grow responsibly to meet increasing passenger demand, while minimising noise and environmental impacts.” 

Greenpeace UK policy director Douglas Parr said the extension would not drive economic growth. "The only thing it's set to boost is air pollution, noise, and climate emissions," he added.

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