John Stanley said today:

“I have sought, and I am glad to say have now obtained, from the Shadow Secretary  of State for Transport, Theresa Villiers, a categorical assurance that a future  Conservative Government will not allow a second runway to be built at Gatwick.

In her letter to me of March 2, Theresa Villiers says: “David Cameron and the Conservative Party oppose a second runway at Gatwick. If elected to Government, we will not allow a second runway to be built.”

She also goes on to say in relation to noise disturbance created by night flights: “We strongly believe in retention of strict controls over night flights – flights which can have such a devastating impact on quality of life. We have called on the Government many times to scrap their plans to review the rules on night flights and to give long term binding assurances that the restrictions that protect the sleep of those affected by aircraft noise will not be watered down.”

These key Conservative policy commitments will I know be greatly welcomed by my many constituents living under the eastern approach path for aircraft landing at Gatwick.

In recent years noise disturbance from aircraft bound for Gatwick has steadily increased for those living between Tonbridge and the Surrey border and I am continuing to do my utmost to try to get it reduced. A second runway at Gatwick would be hellish for very large numbers of my constituents and I am glad this nightmare is not going to happen with a Conservative Government.”