Local authority withdraws support for Farrell's Gatwick plan

Terry Farrell’s plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport have been hit with the news that the local county council has withdrawn its support for the plan.

West Sussex county council had originally backed the idea back in July 2013 but just hours after Farrell unveiled its latest plans to make Gatwick “the world’s most efficient two runway airport” councillors voted to reverse the decision.

In a statement on its website, West Sussex Council said it was agreed via a majority vote on Monday “that the authority would now oppose expansion at the airport following the high level of opposition that has been raised locally over the environmental impact and infrastructure implications of a second runway at Gatwick.”

But the council has pledged to continue working with the airport and has put together a 20 page document of improvements it says are needed before any proposal to expand Gatwick is submitted to government.

The council’s cabinet member for highways and transport Pieter Montyn said: “Councillors believed that Gatwick has not, to date, put forward sufficient evidence to counter the very serious environmental and noise fears of local residents and so voted to now oppose expansion.”

Key elements of Farrells’ design include a more efficient layout, which the airport claims will allow passengers to reach boarding gates within 30 minutes of arrival, and self-service bag drops and electronic security gates that will “eliminate queues”.

Both runways will operate in mixed mode, which means both will have arriving and departing flights. Short taxiing times will reduce operating costs and engine emissions.

Last November another local authority, Kent county council, withdrew its backing for the second runway as well because of new flight paths over the west of the county.

The Airports Commission is expected to make a recommendation to the Government regarding airport expansion and capacity later this summer.

As well as doubling Gatwick’s runway capacity to two, the other proposals being looked at are a third runway at Heathrow and extending the northern runway at Heathrow.