Gatwick Airport runway planning inquiry begins

A six-month inquiry into plans by Gatwick Airport to use its emergency runway for routine flights has begun. The airport hopes to double capacity to 78m passengers by making use of its existing northern runway. It said plans would create 14,000 jobs and provide a GBP1b economic boost - but campaigners have voiced opposition. Before the inquiry in Crawley, 10 councils have also raised concerns that the proposals will not ensure noise and air quality levels are not exceeded. In a joint statement on Monday, the authorities surrounding the airport added: "We also do not consider that the transport network has the capacity to meet the sustainable needs that will arise from the almost doubling of passengers using the airport. We have been working together to ensure that if the proposal were to be approved, the required controls, mitigations and where appropriate, compensations are put in place to limit the environmental impacts and to maximise the economic and community benefits."<br/>