LETTER: Little to benefit constituency

The MP, Caroline Ansell must realise that Gatwick does little to benefit her constituency now so why would she support Gatwick and expansion plans as the major airlines do not - simply read the Airports Commission report submissions by the airlines.

Eastbourne is a long way from Gatwick, and if Gatwick 2 goes ahead, they will be reached by boat only as all major roads will be full before Gatwick 2 is completed and the railway lines, that can’t deal with the current growth of commuters, will be expected to take a further 90,000 daily. Gatwick are not offering to fund Eastbourne roads or affordable housing, let alone the roads and issues that surround it in Sussex, Surrey and Kent with lack of schools, hospitals, GPs, affordable housing, the list goes on! The Airports Commission says that the influx of migrating workers to service Gatwick 2 will live in 14 counties, so that is how many extra people on the roads (100,000 daily) and rail every day to access Gatwick for work and London?

And will they be able to afford the rail fare, as it is cheaper to fly to Europe than to travel to London by rail, and probably faster as well with the state of the rail network that can’t be expanded according to Network Rail (September 2015).

Airport owners do not like to invest in rail as it takes revenue away from their car parks - Gatwick taking over £65m from car parking alone in 2014.

As to industries moving and bringing prosperity to Eastbourne, please wake up Ms Ansell you have been sold a pup by your Chamber of Commerce - Eastbourne is too far away from Gatwick or London and what international business will want to set up base in an area that has poor rail and road connections, lack of quality staff as Gatwick will have set the salary structure, out on a limb miles away from a business airport as Gatwick only services bucket and spade travellers. Shouldn’t you be attracting tourist to Eastbourne to spend money in the UK, your constituency , instead of supporting the export of UK residents and their money to Europe as Spain is Gatwick’s number one destination.

Sally Pavey, chair of CAGNE (Communities Against Noise and Emissions)

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