Horley Town Council will hold its open public meeting on the proposals for a second runway at Gatwick Airport at Oakwood School in Balcombe Road, Horley, this Friday (July 18) at 7.30pm.

The meeting, entitled “Do You Want a Second Runway at Gatwick?” will be the first such meeting to be organised by the council for some six years and its first on the second runway proposals.

For many, the airport's proposals are the major single issue facing the town and area today.

Three speakers will make time-limited presentations on the runway debate issues, including noise, air pollution and infrastructure.

The speakers will be Alastair McDermid, the Airports Commission director for Gatwick, Peter Barclay of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign, and Peter Roe of the Gatwick Diamond Business forum.

Following their presentations, the meeting will split into smaller groups, headed by facilitators, to look at more specific areas and focus on residents' concerns.

Afterwards, the various groups' discussions will be looked at, before residents will get the chance to put questions to the meeting.

There will not be a resolution put, or a vote, at the meeting.

Town councillor Mike George, chairman of the council's second runway sub-committee and the main organiser of the event, said he hoped the turn-out would make it the biggest open public meeting in the council's history.

For more details call the town council on 01293 784765, or email: town.clerk@zen.co.uk