FACTS ABOUT “LONDON REDHILL” AIRPORT PROPOSAL MAKE NO MISTAKE…IT COULD HAPPEN

Although their site was rejected by the Government’s SERAS study last year, in June 2003 Redhill’s owners RAVL submitted a new, bigger plan for “London Redhill Airport”, allowing no time for public consultation. Their aim: to get Redhill included in the White Paper on runways at the end of the year.

This plan has subsequently been endorsed and recommended to Government by the Aviation Select Committee.

Redhill Aerodrome Ventures Limited have lobbied hard, and appear confident their scheme will be included in the White Paper. They claim no public monies will be needed for “London Redhill” and and that it could be up and running within 4 years of planning permission.

RAVL’s plan is for 20 million passengers a year, 240,000 aircraft movements per annum (674 planes a day, between 6.30 a.m. and 10 p.m.) Gatwick currently has 260,000 movements.

Three miles from Gatwick perimeter, it will mean 500,000 planes over East /East Sussex/Kent by 2030

Government have announced they are giving serious consideration to the Redhill plan and spending money to bring it up to the standard of the other considered SERAS options, eg Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted.

Aviation Minister Tony McNulty says that if the Government finally “favours” an option that didn’t appear in SERAS 1 or 2, there will be some public consultation…but there has also been talk of a fast-track planning process for airport runways, which will not involve Public Inquiries.

RAVL say local people are largely indifferent to having an airport at Redhill and that jets will be quieter than Cessnas anyway. “LONDON REDHILL” AIRPORT – WHAT IT WILL MEAN

Access via dedicated motorway link to M23 (no access except to and from airport).

Access via a rubber-wheeled train track to Gatwick via tunnel under .

Local lanes - Masons Bridge Road, Kings Mill Lane, Crab Hill lane will close.

Some parking on site – but RAVL admit not enough for the 15,000 staff and millions of private cars – they say staff will use local car parks/station car parks.

Severe road and rail congestion and great strains on infrastructure eg water/sewage/housing.

Reduced access for emergency services because of road closures. Noise pollution and air pollution will exceed EU norms in some areas, eg Horley.

Huge noise footprint - Whitebushes and become new Charlwood.

Salfords School to be demolished/churches overflown/local schools severe noise problems.

Planes turning over Redhill and , Lingfield and .

Massive construction over 4(?) years – move hills to make runway, 1,000s of lorries.

Closest airport to motorway in the country: planes will be 25 miles above M23.

No Missed Approach Procedure possible at Redhill because of North Downs and LGW.

Houses, schools and churches very close to runway, just over 1,000 metres away.

Housing will be needed for 15,000 workers.

Many of airport workers will be drawn away from existing local businesses.

LRH will be separate from LGW so will be policed by Surrey. Ditto fire & ambulance.

M23 can’t be widened: at least 60% of workforce will travel by car plus millions of passengers.

No access to local commerce from airport – no access to motorway other than from airport WHAT CAN YOU DO? RAVL’s late submission of their proposal meant no-one had a chance to comment – so if you don’t want London Redhill to appear in the forthcoming White Paper, write NOW to: The Transport Secretary, Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP, Department for Transport, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR, and copy Aviation Minister Tony McNulty at the same address.