Campaigners opposing Gatwick Airport expansion plans

Members of Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE) fear the use of the runway will lead to residents living near the airport would be bombarded by "a daily tsunami of planes".

One of the group's main concerns is over the added noise a greater volume of flights arriving at and departing from Gatwick on the Northern Runway could cause.

A CAGNE spokesman said: "Residents will receive a daily tsunami of planes during peak times with multiple departure routes and a significant increase in arrivals day and night."

Chairwoman Sally Pavey added: “It’s unbelievable that whilst residents across Sussex, Surrey and Kent continue to fight the pandemic, with many 1000s of Gatwick staff furloughed with little prospect of their jobs returning, Gatwick has used this time in its usual underhand tactics to pursue its agenda for a second runway by stealth ignoring the will of government, climate change and the people."

Gatwick Airport has suffered another major blow

She said the use of the Northern Runway would see 34,000 extra planes each year travelling to and from the airport, and this number could grow.

Ms Pavey said: "As the umbrella community and environment group we have always been at the forefront in opposing airport expansion.

"...We as a community and environmental group do not believe that Gatwick shareholders will be satisfied with only 34,000 extra planes a year from the second runway as their original plans detailed 55,000 extra planes a year off a second runway.

"An airport can always apply for retrospective planning to the local authority at a later date so residents should be warned that once it is there, there will be little to prevent the current owners, or the new owners, from further expansion."

Crawley will suffer due to coronavirus becasue of the effect on Gatwick Airport (pictured)

But Gatwick bosses say a full consultation on plans to use a second runway will be held this year, with the runway offering an opportunity to "secure long term economic prosperity and jobs in the region for years to come".

A spokeswoman for the airport said: "Contrary to CAGNE’s remarks there has been nothing underhand about our plans to use our existing Northern Runway which are entirely consistent with government policy.

"We have always intended to consult formally on the project in 2021, and we anticipate this (the consultation) will take place in the summer.

"This will allow everyone the opportunity to make their views known on the project and in particular those that rely on the airport for their livelihoods.

Passengers arrive at Gatwick Airport, following an announcement on Saturday that holidaymakers who had not returned from Spain and its islands by midnight would be forced to quarantine for 14 days after Covid-19 second wave fears saw the European country

"While CAGNE clearly has an anti-airport agenda, we do agree with them that the aviation industry has, and continues to be, devastated by the impacts of the pandemic and therefore it is vital that we do what we can to invest in infrastructure that will support economic recovery.

"Once complete, the Northern Runway would create many more jobs and employment opportunities and add £2 billion to the economy.

"So, progressing our plans now could help us secure long term economic prosperity and jobs in the region for years to come."