Frances Haigh: Why we would support second Gatwick runway

We have been incredibly successful as a nation in developing and creating new technologies, building our wealth from the industrial revolution, at the forefront of engineering, building networks of canals, railways and roads. All of this ingenuity meant that we provided jobs and opportunities, and as a country we led the way for the rest of the world.

Time moves on, but for all the strength of the City of London finance sector, the UK still relies on engineering talent and on building infrastructure which underpins and supports our economy. Now when borrowing costs are low and labour is plentiful, it is time to build so that the UK can continue to be a major player in the global economy.

Last week at the Lib Dem Conference, I spoke against party policy for airports and against the proposed amendment. Our local group supports Gatwick, and if the Davies Review recommends that there should be a second runway, we will support it.

Our reasons are:-

Air travel is a modern fact of life. We all take it for granted that we can catch a plane a short drive away, and be in another country in a matter of hours whether for business or leisure. Our house prices reflect this, and many of us who live here have chosen to do so because of the convenience of the airport.

Gatwick Airport and the airlines which use it are major employers in West Sussex. Local residents are employed directly as pilots, cabin crew, air traffic controllers or in catering, cleaning and border control. Others work for companies which have chosen to locate near to the airport, relying on good flights to cities across the world. As a party, we cannot ignore the importance of providing employment and opportunities for our young people. There are areas within West Sussex where there are not enough jobs, and we need to recognise this.

The Airports Commission, led by Sir Howard Davies, has found that Heathrow Airport is already operating at full capacity, and Gatwick will be by 2020. The interim report recommends one runway in the south east by 2030, and a second runway by 2050. Even if Gatwick is not recommended for the first, it may be recommended for the second. However much we might wish for the additional runways to be elsewhere in the UK, this is not a viable option.

Nationally, our economy depends on a good airport network. There needs to be more capacity so that we provide better connectivity for the UK regions, enabling people from across the UK to access the major airports.

Environmentally, it is not acceptable having an airport operating at full capacity. This gives no allowance for delays and peak flow, so what happens in practice is that the planes sit in the stack, circling round 5 or 6 times before they can come in to land. This adds to noise and air pollution, wasting fuel. A second runway will mean that we can make better use of the airport, enabling it to operate efficiently and reducing carbon emissions. An extra runway increases the resilience of the airport, enabling greater flexibility during adverse weather.

Overall, we recognise that we will need to compromise so that we arrive at the best solution. If the runway is built, then we will need to avoid building houses within the airport noise contours so that fewer residents are affected by the noise. On this basis, we would not then build north of Horsham. In support of the runway, we would require investment in our road and rail network; updating the A24 and A23, improving rail links both north-south and east-west. Accepting the second runway means that we can negotiate for the schools, leisure facilities and healthcare to support our growing communities. Without the runway, we will still get the housing - there is no doubt about that – but we will not get the infrastructure that supports our communities and keeps West Sussex as a great place to live.

Frances Haigh is leader of the Lib Dem group on Horsham District Council.