A CAMPAIGN group has expressed disappointment at the Government’s decision to continue running night flights at Gatwick Airport.

The Government recently released a statement that said there will not be a reduction in the number of night flights in the next five years, despite opposition because of the noise disruption.

Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) is opposing the decision.

Brendon Sewill, chairman of GACC, said: “Many of our members want to see a total ban on all night flights at Gatwick, as has been promised for Heathrow, and we proposed that at least there should be a gradual reduction towards that target.

“It is alarming that there is to be no change in the number permitted in winter which, since the current quota is not fully used, could permit a 60 per cent increase in the actual number of night flights in winter.”

Gatwick has almost twice as many night flights as Heathrow.

It also produces more noise than Heathrow, too.

The Government has said, however, that there will be a reduction in the summer noise quotas, something GACC has welcomed because it “will ensure no increase in noise during the summer months”.

This was not enough to override the campaign’s disappointment, though.

GACC says the site produces more noise than Heathrow, despite the “low ambient” noise levels at night in rural areas around Gatwick, meaning each night flight causes more disturbance than in an urban area.

Mr Sewill said: “The environmental group hoped for a reduction in noise levels at night, and is disappointed that the idea, floated by the Transport Department, of a gradual year-by-year reduction in noise quotas to put pressure on airlines to buy and use quieter aircraft has been abandoned as a result of lobbying by airlines.

“It is wicked that the noise quota for the winter will also permit a 60 per cent increase in noise levels at night.

“That appears to contradict the Government claim that the aim is to limit or reduce the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise at night.”

In the Government decision document, it says: “Despite the concerns raised by industry, the Government has received no evidence to suggest that reducing limits at Heathrow and Gatwick to reflect current noise quota usage would not be achievable.

“We therefore continue to think it is appropriate to make these changes to ensure the benefits that have resulted from quieter aircraft over recent years are locked in and give confidence to communities the average noise from an aircraft will not increase compared to current levels.”