Gatwick Airport - facilities, improvements and incidents - merged posts, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

A good day for justice. "Don't worry my friend, we'll sue them for what's rightfully mine. I mean yours." The legal costs would been a lot higher had it gone to court, but the compensation wouldn't have been. Maybe the police needed a few reminders? The alibi seemed a bit flimsy - "We don't own a drone and were both at work". I'm no Inspector Clouseau, but  reckon I could have confirmed or debunked that fairly quickly with resorting to any an early morning call with the Police Universal Doorkey.

Still, £55,000 for 36 hours work - could someone start a rumour about me flying drones near airports please?

[grahame]

Still, £55,000 for 36 hours work - could someone start a rumour about me flying drones near airports please?

I have liked (and I know you jest) - but I urge caution.  36 hours could turn into 37 years.  Forgive this being a Facebook link ... https://www.facebook.com/AGTLiveTour/videos/1131819503856215/

[TonyK]

I have liked (and I know you jest) - but I urge caution.  36 hours could turn into 37 years.  Forgive this being a Facebook link ... https://www.facebook.com/AGTLiveTour/videos/1131819503856215/

I certainly wouldn't try it in any of those former colonies where justice remains arbitrary, but we remain more tolerant over here, including of idiots. So I should be OK.

[TaplowGreen]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News - Gatwick Airport: Second runway backed by government - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqjdz9q170yo

[ChrisB]

providing measures to reduce noise are put in place

[TonyK]

providing measures to reduce noise are put in place

I'm sure that won't be a problem. Either limit the new runway to departures by quieter aircraft, or site the monitoring equipment somewhere you can get the required result. The test will be against 2019 levels, and Airbus NEO aircraft have increased in number since then.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gatwick second runway plan approved by transport secretary

[Image from here is not available to guests]

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has approved plans for a second runway at London Gatwick Airport, as the government looks for economic growth opportunities.

The £2.2bn privately-financed project involves in effect moving the current Northern Runway 12 metres to bring it into regular use, as well as other developments, including extending the size of terminals.

The airport says its plans will bring jobs and boost the local economy. But there has long been opposition from campaigners and groups worried about the impact on the surrounding area.

Gatwick currently handles about 280,000 flights a year. It says the plan would enable that number to rise to around 389,000 by the late 2030s.

A government source has described the plans as a "no-brainer for growth," adding that "it is possible that planes could be taking off from a new full runway at Gatwick before the next general election."

London Gatwick, in West Sussex, is currently Europe's busiest single-runway airport with more than 40 million passengers using it every year.

The plans approved by Ms Alexander would include adding 40,000 more flights before the second runway opens, and 70,000 more - almost 190 a day - once it is fully up and running.

The airport says that passenger numbers could rise to up to 80 million.

Currently, the Northern Runway is currently only used for taxiing or as a back up.

The second runway would be used for short haul flights, with capacity also freed up for more long-haul services from the main runway.

(BBC article continues)

[Noggin]

An idle thought had me wondering about how much this 100,000 extra flights might generate HM Treasury in tax.

I found a suggestion that it could be somewhere in the region of £400m to £1.5bn, depending on the distance of the flights and the planes used.

Also, in case anyone has forgotten, Gatwick was going to sue the Government due to an increase in Business Rates from £40m to £200m p/a - I suspect that might have been quietly dropped one way or another.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gatwick Airport train station evacuated due to overcrowding

[Image from here is not available to guests]

Gatwick Airport train station has been evacuated due to overcrowding, the airport has said.

Passengers are currently unable to enter the station, as trains both northbound and southbound through the station have been suspended.

Rail operator Southern, who operate a number of services at the West Sussex airport, said anyone travelling to the airport is being advised to delay their journey until later where possible.

It added that journeys may take up to two hours longer than usual.

The majority of Southern and Thameslink services through the station have been suspended.

Gatwick Express services are only running between the airport and London Victoria, additionally calling at East Croydon and Clapham Junction where possible.

Ticket are being accepted on local bus routes and other train lines, including Southeastern and South Western Railway.

Disruption has been caused after a person was hit by a train on Monday morning between Gatwick Airport and Haywards Heath and and another person hit between St Albans City and Luton.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gatwick second runway challenge filed at High Court

A legal challenge to the government's decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport has been filed at the High Court, campaigners have said.

In its judicial review claim, Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) alleges officials unlawfully failed to properly assess the environmental impact of the project.

Cagne told the government in October it planned to challenge its decision to back the expansion.

The Department for Transport said it was unable to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.

Gatwick said it intended to participate in the proceedings as an interested party but "while legal proceedings are in progress it would not be appropriate to comment any further".

The £2.2bn privately-financed project includes effectively moving the existing northern runway to bring it into regular use, alongside other developments, such as extending the airport's terminals.

Gatwick estimates the expansion could result in more than 100,000 extra flights per year by the late 2030s, and says passenger numbers could rise to 80 million.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in September the plans would create "thousands of jobs and billions in investment".

The West Sussex airfield is currently Europe's busiest single-runway airport with more than 40 million passengers using it every year.


(BBC article continues)

[TonyK]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Gatwick second runway challenge filed at High Court

A legal challenge to the government's decision to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport has been filed at the High Court, campaigners have said.

In its judicial review claim, Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) alleges officials unlawfully failed to properly assess the environmental impact of the project.

Cagne told the government in October it planned to challenge its decision to back the expansion.

The Department for Transport said it was unable to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.

Gatwick said it intended to participate in the proceedings as an interested party but "while legal proceedings are in progress it would not be appropriate to comment any further".

The £2.2bn privately-financed project includes effectively moving the existing northern runway to bring it into regular use, alongside other developments, such as extending the airport's terminals.

Gatwick estimates the expansion could result in more than 100,000 extra flights per year by the late 2030s, and says passenger numbers could rise to 80 million.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in September the plans would create "thousands of jobs and billions in investment".

The West Sussex airfield is currently Europe's busiest single-runway airport with more than 40 million passengers using it every year.


(BBC article continues)

This is excellent news for lawyers, to whom the result is unimportant. Less so for the taxpayer, who will be paying a sizeable chunk of the costs. At least it's only the High Court so far.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Date set for challenge over second Gatwick runway

A legal challenge over plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport is set to be heard in January, a High Court judge has said.

The privately-funded scheme, costing £2.2bn, will see the airport move its emergency runway 12m (39ft) north, enabling it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year.

Campaign group Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) and chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign Peter Barclay are taking legal action against the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) over Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's decision to approve plans.

The DfT and the airport's owner, Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL), are opposing the challenge, which will begin on 20 January 2026. At a hearing on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mould said the case would be heard over four days.

Estelle Dehon KC, for Cagne, had asked the court for the challenge to be heard in February or March due to barristers for the group being unavailable in January, resulting in an "inequality of arms".

But Mr Justice Mould said that while he was "not oblivious" to the group's concerns, the date would not change. He said: "It is in the highest degree desirable that it should be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. I am afraid I have to be pretty hard-nosed about this, and I appreciate this will create inconvenience to quite a number of people in the room."

Announcing its legal challenge in November, Cagne said there was a failure to properly evaluate the significance of inbound flight emissions and to assess the effect of non-carbon dioxide emissions on the climate.

In written submissions for Tuesday's hearing, Nigel Pleming KC, for the DfT, said some of Mr Barclay's and Cagne's arguments were "irrefutably unarguable".

James Strachan KC, for GAL, said in written submissions: "GAL first applied for development consent in July 2023, almost two-and-a-half years ago, and GAL is keen to begin the development which has been granted consent. It is obviously contrary to the public interest that (unmeritorious) litigation such as these claims should unnecessarily delay national infrastructure projects such as the proposed development."

[TonyK]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Date set for challenge over second Gatwick runway

A legal challenge over plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport is set to be heard in January, a High Court judge has said.

The privately-funded scheme, costing £2.2bn, will see the airport move its emergency runway 12m (39ft) north, enabling it to be used for about 100,000 more flights a year.

Campaign group Communities against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) and chairman of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign Peter Barclay are taking legal action against the Department for Transport (DfT^» (Department for Transport - about)) over Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander's decision to approve plans.

The DfT and the airport's owner, Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL), are opposing the challenge, which will begin on 20 January 2026. At a hearing on Tuesday, Mr Justice Mould said the case would be heard over four days.

Estelle Dehon KC, for Cagne, had asked the court for the challenge to be heard in February or March due to barristers for the group being unavailable in January, resulting in an "inequality of arms".

But Mr Justice Mould said that while he was "not oblivious" to the group's concerns, the date would not change. He said: "It is in the highest degree desirable that it should be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. I am afraid I have to be pretty hard-nosed about this, and I appreciate this will create inconvenience to quite a number of people in the room."

Announcing its legal challenge in November, Cagne said there was a failure to properly evaluate the significance of inbound flight emissions and to assess the effect of non-carbon dioxide emissions on the climate.

In written submissions for Tuesday's hearing, Nigel Pleming KC, for the DfT, said some of Mr Barclay's and Cagne's arguments were "irrefutably unarguable".

James Strachan KC, for GAL, said in written submissions: "GAL first applied for development consent in July 2023, almost two-and-a-half years ago, and GAL is keen to begin the development which has been granted consent. It is obviously contrary to the public interest that (unmeritorious) litigation such as these claims should unnecessarily delay national infrastructure projects such as the proposed development."

This could be interesting. Mr Justice Mould (there are some who call him...Tim) hasn't been a High Court judge for very long, but is not afraid to find against government departments. From what I have read, we can expect a full and thorough examination of the points raised, provided that the plaintiffs can find a barrister who hasn't flown off on holiday for the winter golf season.