A caucus of local MPs from constituencies neighbouring Gatwick of Sussex, Kent and Surrey have expressed concern that the proposed building of a 2nd runway at Gatwick is a disaster in the offing. They say the communities living around the airport aren’t large enough to support the said growth at Gatwick. Transport links too are not in a position to accommodate the expected huge increase in passenger numbers. Gatwick has ignored the reality existing around it. Gatwick says it will create close to 100,000 jobs both directly and indirectly, whereas the number of those going for government unemployment benefits in this area are just 26000. There will be a shortfall in the amount of labour to push through this expansion.
These doubts by the lawmakers came as the airport launched a report indicating that even with a second runway in place, it would still comfortably meet the threshold for EU and UK air quality targets. This they pointed out was unlike for their competitors Heathrow who even at the current state have violated those air quality targets. The authorities are debating on the possibility of introducing a congestion charge at Heathrow to force airlines to use other airports or possibly limit the number of flights at Heathrow at any one time. This is not welcome news to airlines but for Gatwick any news from Heathrow is good news.
This summer’s luggage handling disruption went to show how the airport and it partners are finding it hard to find staff to run the airport smoothly. “If this kind of shortage exists at the airport with a single runway, how will it sustain two runways” the legislators ask. Housing is also a thorny issue with the airport relying on local authorities to plug the shortage. Something that it has hitherto been unable to achieve.