Campaign group forms to fight trial flight path out of Gatwick

In mid February Gatwick Airport started the new route for aircraft over Warnham, a move that has incensed residents.

But the airport says the trial, which is set to last six months, will allow planes to climb faster after take-off, reducing the number of people affected by aircraft noise.

Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions (CAGNE) started in Warnham but has now seen members join from Broadbridge Heath, Rusper, Slinfold, Rowhook, and North Horsham.

Sally Pavey, chair person of CAGNE, said: “We seem powerless to stop these commercial organisations, Gatwick Airport and the National Air Traffic Services, from destroying the quality of so many people’s home life.

“The trial has been badly designed as Gatwick Airport detail that it goes over farmland away from populated areas whereas the truth is that it goes over populated villages and parishes otherwise we would not be complaining.

“They seem to have missed that we live in elevated areas and so the planes are even closer than they state.”

Horsham MP Francis Maude has called for an end to the trial, and a petition against it is close to 500 signatures.

Meanwhile as it unveiled its ‘Gatwick Obviously’ last week Sir Terry Farrell, a leading architect planner who has helped draw up plans for its expansion, said that a second runway could have an ‘Olympic effect’ to the wider region.

Sir Terry said: “Expansion at Gatwick could do for South London and the wider region what the Olympics did for East London and give a huge boost in terms of jobs, housing and regeneration.”