News & Views
The recent news that Gatwick Airport will be sold has generated a huge amount of hot air from the nay-sayers, nimbys & doom-mongers.
But the case for a growing Gatwick cannot, and must not, be dismissed.
To put it very simply, every single aspect of our lives comes from the ability to work and earn a living. In this region it is a fact of life that tens of thousands of jobs are dependant upon the airport and, as such, we must have a thriving Gatwick Airport.
These jobs are not purely in aviation-related industries, although Gatwick itself supports around 27,000 workers, but in businesses that are here because the Airport allows them, their customers and suppliers to connect. Business is about connectivity and the Airport brings fantastic connectivity by air, by rail and by road.
The area is renowned for its diversity in business and there are market leaders in medicine, food, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, banking and finance, law, aerospace and defence. Without Gatwick, developments in the surrounding towns would be unsustainable and the major work that is about to take place in Crawley would not even be considered.
A thriving Gatwick, whilst creating challenges in the labour market, also creates diversity in the economy.
As a region we need to be positive about the future of Gatwick Airport so that the right buyer comes forward. Whoever buys Gatwick will need the cash to pay the purchase price, money for the committed Capital Investment Programme and working capital to run the Airport. The issue of a second runway must not be dismissed out of hand as a prospective purchaser will need to see that the future income can grow.
And finally, before local politicians get too carried away in saying that Gatwick needs to be constrained, I would remind them that every single person who's income is dependent on Gatwick or it's role in the local economy, is a voter! In these times it is vital that we talk positively about the regions' most significant business.
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