Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for Herne Bay and Sandwich (including West Thanet)
Airports National Policy Statement – Heathrow etc. (Manston)
June 5th 2018
The Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, has this afternoon (Tuesday 5th June) told the Commons that
“A new operational runway at Heathrow is still a number of years away” and that “there will also be a need for other airports to make best use of existing runways”.
Questioning the Secretary of State North Thanet`s MP, Sir Roger Gale said:
“In welcoming the Secretary of State`s announcement (about the proposed third runway at Heathrow) and without wishing to compromise him in any future decisions that he may find himself required to make I note that he has said that it will be some years before there are wheels on new tarmac at Heathrow. In the light of Brexit and the need to `make best use of existing runways` may I ask that the Government looks favourably upon proposals to restore existing runway capacity and freight and passenger handling facilities at airports in Kent”?
Responding, Chris Grayling said
“I shall look forward to seeing any proposals that my Honourable Friend brings forward”.
Speaking after the exchange Sir Roger said:
“The Secretary of State clearly cannot comment on a proposed development Consent Order for Manston but his unprompted statement that “we need to make the best use of existing runways” while awaiting development at Heathrow chimes exactly with what I have been saying: we cannot wait for fifteen or even an optimistic ten years for a third runway to be built at Heathrow: we need additional capacity immediately and to serve the air freight and passengers demands of a post-Brexit Britain. Manston Airport is a national asset and one that we cannot afford to discard. I trust that when the development Consent Order is re-submitted it will receive favourable consideration so that we can get on with the real task of getting Manston Airport up and running and serving Britain in the future as it has done in the past”.
Homes England
Commenting upon claims by Mr. Cartner in his capacity as “co-owner of Stone Hill Park” to the effect that SHP has “announced talks with Homes England to support the development of Manston via the £3bn. Home Building Fund” Sir Roger has added:
“I am not aware of any commitment by Homes England to the re-development of Manston Airport for housing and I regard the suggestion, which I note contains no supporting comment from Homes England, as speculative and disingenuous. Manston is zoned in the Local Plan as an airport, a fact that was underscored by the Planning Inspectorate when it rejected SHP`s earlier applications. There is no planning consent for Manston for housing or general industrial use and to suggest that Homes England, a Government-sponsored body, would engage in any commitment to any site without appropriate consents would be improper. I regard this claim as another exercise in SHP kite-flying”.