Gatwick Airport expansion sparks mixed local reaction

The approval of plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport has sparked mixed reactions from local residents.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander approved the £2.2bn privately-financed project on Monday, which involves in effect moving the current Northern Runway 12 metres to bring it into regular use.

Some nearby residents to the West Sussex airport have said the move would bring jobs, investment and growth to the area.

But other complained about congestion, noise levels and questioned whether the promised economic benefits would materialise.

Kiok Remy, who lives in Crawley, said the expansion was a “good thing” economically as it would bring more money and people to the area.

“We need the economy to run,” he told BBC Radio Sussex.

Meanwhile, Jyotirmoy Dewan, landlord of The Charlwood pub in Charlwood, Surrey, called the announcement “exciting”.

“It means lots of job opportunities, more tourism and business,” he said.

“Lots of pubs have been closing down. This really is a fantastic opportunity for us.

“More people will come from all over the world.”

The government has said the project will create “thousands of jobs”, though some experts dispute this, arguing the move only shifts employment from other parts of the country.

Helen Hill, who has lived in Charlwood for 35 years, said residents in her village were “very sad” at the news.

“The airport is quite big enough. In fact, it’s too big as it is,” she told BBC Radio Surrey.

“Why would they want to do it and destroy all our villages? We don’t need the expansion.”

Ms Hill said traffic was already an issue, with roads around Gatwick Airport – Europe’s busiest single-runway airport – gridlocked at times.

Meanwhile, a Horley resident said the airport had led her to move away from the area because of apparent fumes and plane noise.

“You never have any peace and quiet in your garden,” she said.

Duncan Leslie, chief executive of Hever Castle, said the expansion would mean visitors to the local attraction would “constantly be listening to aeroplanes”.

He said a “big motorway” or railway would never be allowed because of the site’s Grade 1 listed status, though that seemed to be ignored when it came to planes.

Gatwick Airport is currently used by more than 40 million passengers every year.

The approved plans are set to add 40,000 more flights before the second runway opens and 70,000 more – almost 190 a day – once it is fully up and running.

The airport says that passenger numbers could rise to up to 80 million.