Concern over airport links future

The council wants improved rail links to the airport

Concerns over a lack of funding for railway links at Gatwick Airport have been raised by Surrey County Council.

The authority is the second to object to a planned cut in funding from £30m to £9m, and also "a lack of long-term investment in Redhill station".

Last month, West Sussex County Council said airport rail links could be "unfit for purpose" by the start of the London 2012 Olympics.

The Office of Rail Regulation said the plans were subject to consultation.

It issued a statement which said: "We have looked at what the government requires at Gatwick.

"This is a draft determination which came out in June."

The deadline for commenting on the plans was on Thursday, and a final report was due out in October, it added.

The lack of investment around Gatwick is baffling Councillor David Munro

Surrey councillor David Munro said improved rail links at the airport would also help communities nearby, in Reigate and Banstead.

He said: "We've demonstrated our commitment to improving stations like Oxted and Horley and we would hope this would be matched nationally at Redhill, but sadly this is not the case.

"The area is growing rapidly in terms of housing and to relive the pressures on roads we need to move people away from driving to the airport.

"They're not going to do this without modern public transport and with the Olympics only four years away the lack of investment around Gatwick is baffling."