LETTER: Major issues of Gatwick growth

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

It would seem that the new chief executive of West Sussex County Council has little clue to what Gatwick expansion will actually mean for West Sussex (County Times October 6).

The date being suggested for the announcement on airport expansion is October 18.

I have just returned from lobbying against Gatwick expansion at the Conservative Conference, and the Secretary of State for Transport said that legally there could only be one option selected, so not Gatwick and Heathrow.

Chris Grayling and I, chair of CAGNE, discussed the major issues with Gatwick expanding and how it would destroy more listed buildings than HS2 with no compensation for those affected in a 30 mile radius.

We also spoke of the lack of funding for schools, roads, hospitals, and of Gatwick being on the worst railway line in the country, that Gatwick would simply swallow up the £4bn investment by Network Rail that was intended for population growth here in the South East and not for Gatwick 2. He understood that there were issues with both Heathrow and Gatwick, but he welcomed the opportunity to hear from a community group to the facts.

He was not alone as Andrea Leadsom MP and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, spoke at a National Trust fringe event about preserving heritage and countryside.

She took time to discuss with me how Gatwick would destroy 17 Grade II listed buildings, some of national importance, as well as ancient woodlands; she seemed unaware of these facts about why she should not support Gatwick, as well as the increase in poor air quality due to the lack of funding for the infrastructure that Gatwick would demand being larger than Heathrow today.