10 February 2010 - Green MEP for Gatwick and the South East, Caroline Lucas, has welcomed a statement by Sir David Rowlands, Chairman of the Board of Gatwick Airport Ltd, confirming that a second runway at Gatwick Airport is not under consideration.

Commenting on speculation that a second runway might be in the pipeline, Sir Rowlands said: "The simple fact is we at Gatwick have not a shred of interest in a second runway”. Caroline Lucas, who has campaigned against continued airport expansion in the South East at the UK and EU level, praised the efforts of local campaigners in putting pressure on the authorities to reject expansion at Gatwick, but warned of the need to be vigilant in the years to come. She said:

“It’s great news that Gatwick Airport management is so clearly ruling out a second runway. This is a real success for residents in Gatwick and the surrounding areas – and for campaign groups such as GACC which have worked so hard to oppose this kind of unchecked development and protect the wellbeing of local people and the environment.

“A second runway at Gatwick would have doubled the size of the airport, doubled the number of aircraft, and doubled the noise and pollution – much to the detriment of those living nearby. And perhaps this latest statement shows that the message is finally getting through that continued airport expansion in the South East is not only environmentally disastrous – it is also economically unsustainable.

“There’s no room for complacency though – there is every chance that proposals for expansion will once again emerge, and it is crucial that public pressure against such reckless and misguided plans is maintained."

ENDS