Campaigners urge government to reject Gatwick plans

Gatwick has submitted plans to bring its northern runway in to regular use

Campaigners are calling on government to "say no" to Gatwick Airport's plans to bring its northern runway in to regular use.

The airport submitted a development consent order in 2023, which is currently being looked at by the Planning Inspectorate.

Gatwick wants to bring its second runway, usually used for taxiing planes and in emergencies, in to regular use.

A spokesperson for Gatwick said its Northern Runway Project was considered to be "nationally significant" and was "thoroughly scrutinised by the Planning Inspectorate".

Sally Pavey, from Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) said the group, which has more than 5,000 members across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, wants to see Gatwick "go away and apply correctly for a new runway".

She told BBC Radio Surrey the group had "seriously questioned" the new runway fitting in to government policy at hearings about the application.

"We would like government to say no. This is not policy. This is not making best use of existing runways," Ms Pavey added.

The Planning Inspectorate is expected to make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Transport by the end of November.

The final decision by the Secretary of State is due in February 2025.

Sally Pavey says the group wants the government to "say no" to the plans

Councils including Crawley Borough, West Sussex County, Surrey County, Reigate and Banstead Borough, Mole Valley District and Tandridge have grouped together and written to both Gatwick Airport and the planning inspector with recommendations.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: "Our plans will not bypass the normal planning processes."

They added that the airport was "fully committed" to making sure growth was sustainable.

They said environmental impacts had been "thoroughly assessed" including environmental mitigations related to noise and carbon emissions.

"Strong support" had been "shown by many local people and businesses" during the hearings, the spokesperson continued.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said they could not comment on live planning applications.