Second council withdraws support from Gatwick expansion

Proposals for an expanded Gatwick have suffered another setback

Seemingly interminable wrangling over the future of aviation capacity in the UK hit a new low earlier, with a second county council withdrawing support from the proposed expansion of London Gatwick Airport.

Bowing to pressure from local residents, West Sussex Council voted by 37 to 26 to reverse a decision taken in July 2014 to support the expansion.

Kent County Council withdrew its backing for a second runway in November, because of new flight paths.

The move adds further weight to the case for a third runway at London Heathrow.

The Airports Commission is presently considering three options for airport expansion in the South East – a second runway at Gatwick, a third runway at Heathrow or an extension to one of the existing Heathrow runways.

A decision is expected after the general election in May.

Gatwick said it believed expansion would bring a huge boost for the local economy, including thousands of jobs and that is was “disappointed” with the decision.