4 December 2012

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

EAST Grinstead Town Council has taken up residents concerns with the authorities that run Gatwick and the largest carrier EasyJet in a bid to reduce affects from aircraft noise.

The Public Services Committee of the Town Council heard on Thursday how responses to letters had been received from MP Nicholas Soames and Chief Executive of WSCC pledging support for the town’s plight. The Town Council had not been so lucky with GATCOM, the official communications body for the Airport, who advised that Parish Councils were not invited to the table unless they physically border the airport. However both Mid Sussex District and West Sussex County have seats and can take up residents problems directly. GATCOM has offered the inclusion of papers circulation to the Town Council so that representations to the members can be made.

In a separate meeting with EasyJet representatives the Town has secured a pledge to keep communications open as the airline would like to work with the Council and be seen as a responsible carrier. Easyjet have confirmed that they fly within the set flightpath but that an update in navigational equipment means that more flights now skirt the edge of the town. They are looking into ways that this may be able to be mitigated in response to the request of the Town Council as the new PRNAV directional system currently at consultation could mean almost all flights taking off on the eastbound runway would fly this intrusive path. An objection to this pathway has been made by East Grinstead Town Council directly to Gatwick Airport Ltd (GAL).