Councillor Margaret Cooksey, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “We have responded* to Gatwick Aviation Limited’s (GAL) public consultation ahead of the closing date on 1 December 2021. Our response makes it very clear that GAL’s proposals to bring the airport’s Emergency Runway – often referred to as the Northern Runway – into routine use alongside its main runway are considered unacceptable by Mole Valley District Council.

“Firstly, we have a number of environmental concerns, particularly in relation to noise, air quality, climate change and carbon impacts; all of which we are concerned could have longer term implications on the health and wellbeing of our residents and anyone who works in Mole Valley, and not just restricted to those in the south of the district. Secondly, we believe GAL provided insufficient information regarding projected passenger growth, and there are information gaps throughout the topics covered within the consultation documents.

“We were also disappointed that the information provided by GAL during the consultation process failed to take in to account the Government’s support for a third runway at Heathrow, or indeed likely future development at other airports in the South East.