The impact of Gatwick on both the close-by Dorking & Horley is considerable, and proposed new flight paths are something we really need to be concerned about. People who have not previously experienced noise and the impact of overflying may now have to deal with planes going over their homes.
Most of us enjoy going on holiday and seeing the world, so we cannot adopt a purely NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) approach. Gatwick Airport has been operational for a long time, providing jobs and serving as a departure point for many of our flights. Nonetheless, we have to work out the balance between all of these positives with the erosion of our quality of life. There have been many studies on the impact of noise and also poor air quality on our health.
Flight paths are a big deal, and I for one will be working to ensure we protect residents from suddenly having to deal with the impact of changes. Foremost, it is about whether the right flight paths are being put forward. Then, it's about respite, restrictions on night flights, and broadly looking at the whole issue of noise envelopes and reducing noise. Nobody should have to deal with rattling windows and being woken up.
The issue of flight path changes also prompts us to consider what kind of county we want Surrey to be. It is a place where many people aspire to live, and as I explore the villages of Ewhurst, Capel, Leigh, Mickleham, Westhumble, and Charlwood, I have been amazed at how many beautiful places there are. There are so many lovely houses, big and small, and so much fantastic countryside. We have a new town centre coming for Horley. It should be a place where people can enjoy sitting in restaurants and cafes outdoors and where local children can breathe clean air. We have to protect what makes this area great, from where we develop the needed new homes to the planes flying over our heads. This does not mean saying no to everything and preventing economic growth, but it does mean fighting for our quality of life.
