Exclusive:
The heads of the GMB and Prospect unions have written to the Transport Secretary arguing for a second runway at Gatwick to create jobs and boost economic growth
Two unions have stepped up calls on Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to approve a second runway at Gatwick Airport.
Andy Prendergast, national secretary at the GMB, and Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy have written a joint letter urging her to approve the project and allow work to start “without delay”.
The letter, seen by the Mirror, starts: “As the leaders of trade unions representing over five million working people and thousands whose jobs are intrinsically linked to a successful UK aviation sector, we are today reiterating our support for London Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project.” It says the airport currently supports around 25,700 jobs, “with many workers across the campus that are members of our unions.”
And it concludes: “We urge the Transport Secretary to approve the development consent order for London Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project, and with a set of planning conditions relating to noise and public transport mode share which will allow construction to start without delay. Doing so quickly helps to meet the Governments growth agenda, will unlock tens of thousands of new jobs, billions of pounds in economic benefits at a critical time for workers and improve travel choices for passengers. As the Government turns the page on austerity, a shovel ready growth project like this is an obvious choice.”
Ms Alexander faces a deadline of next Thursday to decide on Gatwick’s application for a development consent order.
Gatwick bosses are hopeful after Chancellor Rachel Reeves hinted at government backing for a second runway during a keynote speech on driving economic growth last month. The airport’s £2.2billion privately-funded project would involve bringing its second “standby” northern runway into full operational use.
But critics maintain that the airport’s plans fail to address critical issues over noise pollution, air quality, additional roads, and additional strain on local services. Communities Against Gatwick Noise and Emissions, responding to reports last month that the government was set to approve of a new runway, said: “It is disgraceful of this government to ignore public opinion and all the facts that this is a new runway and not compliant to the policy being used by the airport to achieve a new runway by stealth. The Airport Commission found that there was only the need for one runway in the SouthEast and it was not at Gatwick Airport.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “As this is a live application that will be determined by the Department, it would not be appropriate to comment.”
