Passing ATCO helps out (hopefully)
The two runways at Gatwick are definitely too close to be used simultaneously, and even if the technical restrictions could be changed (extremely unlikely) they would still be too close to be of much practical use. They cannot be defined as "close parallel runways" which is only applied when those runways are in use at the same time. Gatwick is currently a single runway airport (the busiest in the world, and significantly busier than many multi-runway airports).
The current runway regularly exceeds 50 movements per hour and in busy periods with the right mix of traffic, 52 to 56 movements is not uncommon. I remember BAA looking at lots of options for a second runway including one to the North, but the major problem in that direction is Horley, not to mention the administrative nightmare of dealing with 2 separate councils. Gatwick used to be in Surrey until the early 50's when the boundary was moved and I don't think they'd want it back!
