LETTER: Gatwick would look expensive

Alistair McDermid actually holds the position of Airports Commission Director at Gatwick Airport and is a member of their Senior Leadership Team and it is his job to secure a second runway at Gatwick which he failed to do last time round.

He therefore cannot present an unbiased opinion on the advantages or disadvantages of the proposed second runway at Gatwick Airport and therefore he should not attempt to present a case in its favour.

He seems to wish to dismiss the fact that West Sussex County Council have submitted the following to the Airports Commission which clearly suggests that mitigation for a second runway at Gatwick could result in charges for Gatwick passengers.

http://www2.westsussex.gov.uk/ds/cttee/cc/cc220515i5.pdf

‘Introduce a congestion charge for people travelling to the Airport. Possible exemptions for the greenest vehicles 72. It is not clear how effective a congestion charge could be. An assessment on demand management measures in reducing car use at Heathrow Airport was carried out for another module of the Airports Commission’s assessment. Whilst the outcome of that assessment cannot be directly transferred to a different airport, the overall conclusions that the imposition of additional charges on car users could have a significant impact on car mode share and overall traffic demand, remain valid. 73. Depending on the scale of charge imposed, and the extent of the scheme (that is whether it targets passengers, employees and/or taxis), it is Cabinet – Appendix 1 County Council Report 22 May 2015 15 possible that traffic generation with the expanded Gatwick Airport could be reduced to 2013 levels.

p.14-15.’

I am sure additional charges for Gatwick passengers will not go down well with low cost airlines like EasyJet as they are already concerned about landing fees increasing which will inevitably add to fare costs and make Gatwick look expensive to those that deal in bucket and spade holidays which Gatwick specialises in.

BILL SORRELL

Friday Street, Warnham

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