Gatwick Airport today launches its six-week public consultation on proposals for a second runway.

The three choices being considered for the 3.4 km second runway at the UK's second biggest airport will open at The Hawth in Crawley as the first of 16 public exhibitions.

It will include display boards and visitors can talk to teams from Gatwick and the Airports Commission.

Over the next six weeks, the same exhibition will move to other towns and villages including Horley, Horsham and East Grinstead.

Gatwick Airport Limited (GAL) has said feedback from the public consultation will help improve its second runway proposal to the Airports Commission.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive officer of London Gatwick, said: “We are keen to encourage as many local people as possible to respond to our consultation, as this feedback will have a key role in helping us to refine our runway proposals.

“The consultation is a chance for the local community to find out more about our proposals, ask questions and have their say on our plans for a second runway.”

The proposals have sparked heated arguments on both sides with the Gatwick Diamond Business forum among those in support and the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) among those against it.

Gatwick is consulting on three options: Option 1 is a new runway 585m south of the existing runway, Option 2 would be 1,045m to the south, and Option 3 is also 1,045m to the south, but with the two runways being used independently.

Under Options 1 or 2, one runway would be used for landings and the other for take-offs.

Under Options 2 or 3, a new terminal would also be built between the runways.

Gatwick has established Option 3 as its preferred first choice.

The Airports Commission focused on this option for last December’s Interim Report, describing it as offering “the greatest increase in capacity while still having relatively low environmental and noise impacts compared with some other potential sites.”

Public exhibitions are being held this week at Ghyll Manor Hotel, Rusper, on Monday, April 7, at the Centenary Hall, Smallfield, on Tuesday, April 8 and at Ifield Community College, Ifield, on Wednesday, April 9.

The exhibition continues at the Pavilion Suite at Lingfield Park Racecourse, Lingfield, on Friday, April 11. All are open between 4pm and 7.30pm.

The consultations run until Friday, May 16. For more information visit www.gatwickairport.com/consultation