Five separate polls show support for new runway at Gatwick
11 December 2014
Five separate YouGov polls published today all show support for building a new runway at Gatwick over Heathrow.
The polls include surveys of Londoners, Gatwick residents, Heathrow residents, UK small businesses and the first ever poll of London’s councillors on the runway issue.
When given a straight choice of where to build a new runway, more than half (51%) of London’s councillors chose Gatwick, with only 37% selecting Heathrow.
The 235 councillors surveyed were also asked which airport they thought would be the best choice for expansion in relation to nine separate categories, and Gatwick scored significantly higher in eight:
| |
Gatwick
|
Heathrow
|
|
Impact on local residents
|
54%
|
17%
|
|
Impact on natural environment
|
42%
|
27%
|
|
Regeneration benefits to local area
|
42%
|
25%
|
|
Certainty new runway will actually be delivered
|
41%
|
24%
|
|
Speed it can be delivered
|
43%
|
23%
|
|
Lowest cost to taxpayers
|
40%
|
24%
|
|
Best for competition
|
44%
|
24%
|
|
Best for air traffic over London
|
58%
|
21%
|
Heathrow was seen as best for economic benefits to the whole of the UK.
In the other four polls of Londoners, Gatwick residents, Heathrow residents and UK small businesses, when given a straight choice of where to build a new runway, all groups -– all supported the expansion of Gatwick over Heathrow.
Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO said:
“Today’s polling results show how the public, local politicians that represent them and small businesses up and down the country, all think Gatwick should be expanded.
“The results also demonstrate the increasing momentum and support behind Gatwick’s campaign in the last twelve months and the increasing recognition that a new runway at Gatwick can actually be delivered.
"Build a new runway at Gatwick and the UK gets the economic boost it needs at a fraction of the environmental impact of Heathrow today without huge risk to the public purse.”
