Category Archives: Capel Parish Council Notes

Just Say No!

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The Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, has included Gatwick Airport in its shortlist for potential locations for the next runway in the UK. Gatwick Airport Limited have produced a consultation paper and 17-page questionnaire about their possible runway options. After considerable pressure they have included a ‘None of these options’ check-box buried in section D.

FACTS

Heathrow is the only airport in the London area running near to maximum capacity. Stansted is only at 40% capacity and not due to reach maximum until 2040. The Government should return to the policy of NO MORE RUNWAYS and not yield to pressure from the airlines. The airlines would then begin to develop holiday services from the regional airports and so free up slots at Heathrow and Gatwick for foreign visitors and business travel.

Gatwick is surrounded by Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which are nationally protected landscapes valued by numerous visitors for their unique flora, fauna, peace and tranquility. The Surrey Hills reach 1000 feet putting them 35% closer to aircraft above. We are plagued by the noise and pollution caused by aircraft taking-off from Gatwick from 6 am to midnight. This can only get considerably worse.

Global Infrastructure Partners have made no secret that they hope to sell their airport share by 2020. Having permission for a second runway will dramatically increase its value.

SUGGESTIONS

that you can use to object to the second runway option at Gatwick

  • New homes required to meet the demands generated by employment for a new runway and expanded facilities. Approximately 30,000 – 45,000 new houses would be needed around the whole county. This was the conclusion of a study jointly commissioned by the West Sussex CC and Gatwick Diamond Initative.
  • Road and rail infrastructure for the airport. Both are already at breaking point and could not stand the extra pressure caused by the increase in travellers and local residents on the rural and motorway networks.
  • The need for extra school places, hospitals and doctors surgeries to be able to cope with the influx of new residents.
  • The routing proposed for aircraft will only worsen already unacceptable noise and pollution levels.
  • The drainage capacity of the river network created by the new developments will impact further on the Mole Valley.
  • It will certainly spoil our Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1). Gatwick Airport Limited are putting on a series of exhibitions about their second runway options. One is in Dorking, please visit and make your objections known.

Date: Thursday 1st May 2014, 4.00 to 7.30pm Venue: Masonic Hall, Dorking Halls, RH4 1SG

If you can not attend there are others at Horley, Charlwood and Horsham.
2). The deadline for submitting your response to the questionnaire is 16th May 2014.

  • Complete GAL’s online response form by going to www.gatwickairport.com/consultation and click ‘have your say’
  • Request a paper response form and post it to: Freepost RSLG ATKL LBAE, Gatwick Runway Consultation, Ipsos MORI – Research Services House, Elmgrove Road, Harrow, HA1 2QG. Capel PC have a limited supply, contact Jackie Coke via email capelpc@btconnect.com or telephone on 01306 712447
  • Email GAL at gatwickrunwayconsultation@ipsos.com
  • Be aware that you must use the channels described here when responding to this consultation. Gatwick Airport Ltd cannot accept responsibility for ensuring that responses sent to any other addresses are included in this consultation

3). LOBBY your local district and county councillors and member of parliament. Details for contacting all are on the Capel Parish Council web-site www.capel-pc.gov.uk

4). REGISTER with GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign)

GACC have been successfully fighting expansion at Gatwick Airport since the 1960’s. They have a team of experts who are running a concise and intelligent press campaign and who will also answer your questions.You can contact GACC on the following:

  • Website: www.gacc.org.uk
  • Post: GACC Campaign Office, Stan Hill, Charlwood, Surrey. RH6 0EP
  • Telephone: 01293 863369
  • Email: gacc@btconnect.com
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/doyoucaregatwick 

The Gatwick Airport Runway Options Consultation

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Gatwick Airport Ltd has produced a 17 page questionnaire about their possible runway options. After considerable pressure they have included a ‘None of these options’ check-box buried in Section D.

Responses to the consultation must be submitted online at www.gatwickairport.com/consultation click ‘have your say’ this takes you to the questionnaire or you can request a paper response form and post it to: Freepost RSLG ATKL LBAE, Gatwick Runway Consultation, Ipsos MORI – Research Services House, Elmgrove Road, Harrow, HA1 1QG. Capel Parish Council has a limit number of parker copies of the form available from Jackie Coke (details below)

  • Making Gatwick larger than Heathrow is currently will endanger the character of Surrey, Sussex and West Kent for ever.
  • Capel Parish Council will be sending out a flyer entitled ‘Just Say no’ to all households in the Parish listing some suggestions that you may like to use to object to a second runway option at Gatwick.
  • The scale and cost of the infrastructure to support an airport potentially larger than Heathrow would mean a massive change in the character of our area, bringing urbanisation of green fields for many miles around.
  • Approximately 40,000 new houses would be needed around the whole country if a new runway is commissioned by the West Sussex County Council and Gatwick Diamond Initiative.
  • Increased risk of local flooding – the drainage capacity of the river network created by the new developments will impact the Mole Valley.
  • Road and rail infrastructure around the airport. Both are already at breaking point and could not stand the extra pressure caused by the increase in travellers and local residents in the rural network.
  • More pollution leading to possible health problems.
  • Our homes, villages and towns blighted by even more aircraft noise and road traffic.
  • The need for extra school places, hospitals, doctors surgeries to be able to cope with the extra residents.
  • The routing proposed for aircraft will only worsen an already unacceptable prevailing noise nuisance.
  • Grid locket motorways (M25 and M23) leading to more rat runs through our villages.
  • It will certainly spoil our Local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
  • Listed buildings demolished.
  • Economic benefits would be mainly for new workers moving into the area not for existing residents.

The Parish Council urges residents who have not already attended one of the public exhibitions to do so on Thursday May 1st at the Masonic Hall in Dorking Halls between 4pm and 7:30pm so that they can see for themselves the enormity of what is proposed.

Jackie Coke, Clerk to the Council. Tel 01306-712447, Email capelpc@btconnect.com 

 

Resurfacing of Capel Children’s Playground

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We hope to have the new surface down by the end of april, sooner if possible. Unfortunately conditions on the Recreation Ground have been so wet that we have not been able to get heavy machinery there to prepare the ground work but once we get the go ahead it should only take a day’s work to install.

The suface will be of ‘JungleMulch’, abounded rubber mulch made from eco-friendly recycled rubber which makes an attractive and durable safety surfacing. This will be formed around the existing equipment with the exception of the now defunct balance board which will be replaced with a timber balancing beam. The wooden retaining boards around the bark will be removed so that the whole of the playground can be surface to make a much larger play area, but still with a bench.

Proposed solar PV Development

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Proposed solar PV development on land off the A24 at Cracker Barrel Farm

TGC Renewables, the company considering a pre planning application as above, has been invited by the Parish Council to give a presentation explaining its proposals and to provide in depth detail of research relevant to the area concerned should it intend to progress to making a formal planning application.

Jackie Coke  – Clerk to the Council – 01306 712447

Housing and Traveller Sites Plan: Consultation Document 2014

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This consultation document can be viewed here. Please make sure you view Chapters 5,7,10, 11 and 12 as they are all relevant to Capel and Beare Green.

If you were not able to attend the exhibition at Capel on 28th January there will be a repeat at the Beare Green Village Hall, Merebank on Friday 14th February between 3:00pm and 8:00pm when detailed maps will be on display and MVDC staff will be available to answer questions.

Reponses to the consultation need to reach MVDC by March 7th 2014.

Jackie Coke  – Clerk to the Council – 01306 712447

Allotments Available

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Parish Council Allotments – There are currently two half allotment available for rental. Please contact The Clerk for further details. The Council is concerned about the state of many of its allotments and will be reviewing the dimensions of the plots and its rental policy as it would appear that a full allotment is more than most people can manage and keep in a clean and tidy yet cultivated state.

Jackie Coke  – Clerk to the Council – 01306 712447

A New Year’s Present For Capel Playground!

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Capel Parish Council is to receive £23,000 towards upgrading the children’s playground in the Capel Recreation Ground! This princely sum is being donated by the Prudential’s “RideLondon-Surrey” charitable trust as a “thank you” to East Surrey for hosting the cycle ride in August.
The playground, a wonderful amenity for the children of Cape], will hopefully have new equipment and impact-softening ground material by Easter.