Times
ALL THE NEWS THAT MATTERS LOCAL,
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
TUNBRIDGE WELLS 01892 521700 (sales) 01892 521740 (lettings) tunwells@jackson-stops.co.uk jackson-stops.co.uk
E H ER T 20 EV RS E H HE AG T P EA M W TOR S
Wednesday August 16 | 2023
“Extremely efficient” “A wonderful experience”
Call us today to arrange your free sales or lettings market appraisal.
Second runway at Gatwick will create ‘motorways in the skies’
Picture: Shutterstock
The airport says the plans will generate 14,000 new jobs By Lilly Croucher PLANS for a second runway at Gatwick would mean thousands more planes using the airport and be “a massive blow to the quality of life” for people across Tunbridge Wells. That’s the warning from local MP Greg Clark following the next step in Gatwick’s scheme to repurpose the Northern Runway. The plan has now been submitted to a panel of independent experts for examination. The process could take up to 18 months and could lead to the final
green light for the controversial initiative. In a letter to the Planning Inspectorate, Mr Clark said: “The level of noise from the existing use of Gatwick Airport causes significant disturbance to many of my constituents because landing flights pass at low levels directly across residential areas in Tunbridge Wells, Southborough, Rusthall, Speldhurst, Bidborough, Groombridge, Ashurst and Langton Green. “The proposed additional runway would make a bad situation worse.” Mr Clark was particularly
concerned by Gatwick’s analysis that pointed out that a 70 per cent increase in the number of air traffic movements between 2016 and 2032, of which 30 per cent was specifically attributable to the proposal. “Such an increase in the frequency of aircraft movements overflying an area would be a massive blow to the quality of life of my constituents,” he added. “Noise would go from being frequent to being more or less constant.” Continued on page 2
INSIDE: Pembury Road to reopen early – page 3
“Exemplary service”