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Its A Week Of Protests Directed At Gatwick
23 - Jan - 2014

Its a week of protests directed at Gatwick

 

This week, Gatwick Airport and NATS, providers of air traffic services, announced that they are seeking views from people regarding the recent consultation on the use of airspace in and out of Gatwick Airport in the future.  And the reason?  It’s because the proposed changes in flight paths mean that areas once known for being aircraft-free, will soon suffer the ignominy of aircraft overhead!

Issues will probably include noise levels and CO2 emissions, and your comments could make a difference as to where the new flight paths will be scheduled.  Whilst Gatwick and NATS say that some areas should notice little or no change, other areas may well see a big increase in the number of aircraft flying overhead, although these areas may take solace in ‘respite’ periods such as some in the Heathrow Airport flight path catchment.

The UK’s major airports are really in a no-win situation; due to the fact that airspace in the south east is at a premium, probably being the busiest worldwide, this is the first stage in meeting Future Airspace Strategy’s (FAS) changes which are effective from 2020.  Gatwick is the first of the airports to consult on airspace; be warned that other airports are set to follow.  Airspace regulators say that the changes will improve efficiency and lessen delays, but it could mean increase in flights over popular places such as Chiddingstone, Hever and Sevenoaks Weald, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  If you want to have your say, go to www.londonairspaceconsultation.co.uk and add your comments by 21st January 2014.

But that wasn’t the only protest directed at Gatwick Airport; although the decision to postpone changes on night flight limits out of airports is government-led, it is the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC), the environmental body that focuses on the area around Gatwick Airport, which has criticised the decision.  The group reported that, over the past 15 years, aircraft noise permitted overnight has been falling.  However, they believe that this latest decision will stop progress and may even lead to an increase again in the future; changes in flight paths could be the catalyst.  The price we have to pay for living in the south east?  Possibly…

 

By Oliver Derek