Anti-Gatwick expansion campaigners initiate legal proceedings

Campaign group Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) has sent a pre-action protocol letter to transport secretary Heidi Alexander as it continues to line up a potential judicial review over the airport’s proposal to bring its standby runway into full use.

Alexander approved Gatwick’s £2.2 billion plans to move its northern runway 12 metres further north, paving the way for up to 100,000 extra flights a year by the late 2030s.

Cagne, which has raised more than £19,000 towards a potential judicial review, said it had sent a pre-action protocol letter to the transport secretary.

Sally Pavey, the group’s chairperson, claimed the government “seems to care little” for the impact of aviation on the environment.

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “The department is unable to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.”

A Gatwick spokesperson added: “We are aware of the prospective judicial claim against the Secretary of State for Transport’s decision on the planning application for our northern runway project.

“Depending on the next steps, we will determine our position and the extent of our involvement in legal proceedings.”