Chancellor of the Exchequer, , said:
“This Government promised to kickstart the economy - and we
are.
“A second runway at Gatwick means thousands of more jobs and
billions more in investment for the economy.
“We are backing the builders, not the blockers. By slashing red
tape and transforming the planning system to get Britain building
again we are investing in this country's renewal and building an
economy that works for working people.”
MP, Shadow Transport
Secretary, said:
“We welcome the decision to approve Gatwick's second runway. If
done with sensible mitigations, it will be a vital step towards
driving economic growth, improving connectivity, and
strengthening Britain's position on the global stage.
“But let's be clear, this decision should have been made months
ago. Labour pledged to go ‘further and faster' on growth, yet
they've dithered and delayed at every turn. Pushing key decisions
down the road has only created uncertainty for businesses and
local communities.
“Now that Gatwick's second runway has been approved, it's crucial
Labour ensures this infrastructure helps drive the economic
growth our country needs.”
Gatwick Airport missed opportunity - CAGNE
“Missed opportunity for the government to secure
funding for infrastructure from an airport that is gaining a
whole new runway virtually for free that will cost taxpayers
dearly”, says CAGNE, the
umbrella aviation community and environment group for Sussex,
Surrey and Kent in response to the announcement today by Rt Hon
, Secretary of State for
Transport.
CAGNE stands ready with Leigh Day Solicitors to serve a Judicial
Review funded by residents and environmental bodies.
“We know this government cares little for the environmental
impact aviation is having on our planet and Gatwick's neighbours,
but not to demand that Gatwick pays for the infrastructure, the
onsite wastewater treatment plant, and noise impact is unlawful
in our book.
The government seems in such disarray and desperate for short
term headlines that they obviously haven't read the planning
inspectorate's report carefully that proposed refusal.
Gatwick is in the business of exporting sterling out of the UK as
such onward surface access has never been something that they
have troubled themselves with, and we see this again as we did in
2014 when the Airport Commission found in favour of Heathrow.
With little money being offered by the shareholders of this
airport to fund the infrastructure that will be required to meet
Gatwick's aim of 80m flyers, freight and seasonal workers, the
bill will be handed to the local authorities and in turn
taxpayers.
When the residential roads are sewage flowing and congested
traffic reduces the air quality, we hope the government will have
deep pockets to bail out local authorities who will have to fund
these ramifications.
As this is a new runway by the backdoor, offering little
compensation for some and nothing for the majority of residents
whose homes will be devalued as will areas of outstanding natural
beauty and places of historic importance. As the only
guarantee Gatwick has offered is that instead of one runway
starting up at 6.30am until 11.30pm at night there will be two,
so double the noise over rural areas.
We will now carefully read the announcements by the Secretary of
State and consult our legal team, but this is not over for
Gatwick or the government.
"A second runway at Gatwick is a disaster" -
Greens
Responding to the news that Transport Secretary has approved plans for a
second runway at London Gatwick Airport, Green Party Co-Leader,
, said:
“Signing off on a second runway at Gatwick is a disaster. It
ignores basic climate science and risks undermining efforts to
tackle the climate crisis. Labour keeps wheeling out the same
nonsense about growth, but at what cost? What this really means
is more pollution, more noise for local communities, and no real
economic benefit. Expanding Gatwick is a tired, 20th-century
answer to a 21st-century crisis. Labour's obsession with ‘growth
at all costs' is driving us deeper into a climate breakdown and
social inequality crisis."
