When I was first elected in 2015 there was a critical issue which stood to be resolved.
Airport expansion was certain – the question was where.
The Davies Commission was a serious, dedicated, workmanlike exercise. It made a clear recommendation – that expansion at Heathrow was in the national interest and should be preferred. The rationale – around the future of hub airports, UK transport infrastructure, labour availability and economics was clear.
The Government endorsed the recommendation. Parliament with some of the broadest support across all parties I have seen supported the Government.
I supported that position. Gatwick is a hugely important local employer and I supported (and support) the maximum use of their single operational runway. However I accepted fully the arguments in the national interest favouring Heathrow and was alarmed at the impact on our area were Gatwick to be allowed to double in size.
That impact would include more congested rail services and roads: including roads between Horsham and Redhill Hospital especially during no less than 14 years of construction.
It would mean more aircraft noise, more pressure on local infrastructure (including housing), justified concerns on air quality, even on the ability to manage sewage in an airport handling millions of additional passengers every year.
The decision in favour of Heathrow was taken. Expansion in the South East with all its consequences (including carbon emissions) would be focussed there – residents were informed.
I am therefore bemused that Gatwick believes that by moving an existing “emergency” runway the airport can create two operational runways and massively expand “under the radar”.
As I made clear to the Inquiry last week. I do not support this approach and I believe it would be bad news for the Airport itself, for most local residents and for the UK achieving its optimal airport expansion programme.
If expansion must go ahead it should be on a controlled and managed basis (as is intended at both Heathrow and Luton). This would ensure that Gatwick could (with consequences) be held to account for delivering the promises being made to local residents).