Category: Latest news

Heathrow insulation scheme: “more generous than we have seen before but a sign of how eager the airport is to get a third runway”.

 Campaign group HACAN has welcomed today’s proposals by Heathrow Airport to provide residents with more noise insulation as “more generous than we have seen before but a sign of how eager the airport is to get a third runway.”

Heathrow Airport announced that, if a new runway goes ahead, it will extend its noise insulation scheme to cover everybody living within the area where noise is officially a problem (1).  It means that people living over 15 miles from the airport, in places such as Clapham, will get financial help to install noise installation; around 160,000 households in total.  The airport has set aside £700 million pounds for the purpose.

HACAN chair John Stewart said, “There is no doubt that this is much more generous than anything we have seen before and it brings Heathrow into line with other major European airports.  But it does show how eager the airport is to get a new runway.  It also suggests that residents have been short-changed in the past”.

Heathrow is dividing the area where people are eligible for insulation into the inner and outer zones.  Those living in the inner zone will get 100% of their costs covered.  Those in the outer zone will get a grant of up to £3,000.

The announcement by Heathrow comes a day before the end of the consultation by the Airports Commission into whether a new runway should be built at Heathrow or Gatwick.

ENDS

 Notes for editors:

 (1).  Technically, this is defined at the 55Lden contour, i.e. the area where noise averages out at 55 decibels or more over a 24 hour period.  It is the measurement used by the European Union.

For more information:

John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650

 

 

Press Release

30/1/15 for immediate use

 Campaigners link up with cross-party group of politicians to remind David Cameron to stick to his promise on 3^rd runway

 Downing Street event on February 3rd

 At 2pm on February 3rd (1), to mark the end of the current consultation by the Airports Commission, a cross-party group of MPs, accompanied by campaigners from across London (2), will hand in a letter (3) to Number 10 urging the Prime Minister to stick to his promise made before the 2010 General Election, “No ifs; no buts; there will be no third runway.”  Between 1.30pm and 2pm a larger group of anti-third runway campaigners will gather in Whitehall outside the gates of Downing Street.  They will include people from the Heathrow villages whose homes will be demolished if a new runway is built as well as members of the Green Party and UKIP.

John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN, said, “We are deliberately targeting Downing Street because the decision about a new runway will be a political one.  The politicians can override whatever recommendations the Airports Commission will come up with in the summer.”

Stewart added, “This event once again demonstrates the cross-party nature of the opposition to a third runway.  It also shows the geographical spread of the current problems caused by Heathrow which can only get worse if a new runway is built.  Representatives of groups from as far apart as Brockley and Teddington will be going into Downing Street.”

ENDS

 Notes for Editors:

 (1). The delegation will be outside Number 10 at 2pm.  A group of campaigners and supporters will be outside the gates in Whitehall from about 1.30pm but, note, this is not a mass demonstration.  However, the event will provide good photo-opportunities.

(2). Politicians going into Downing Street will include Adam Afyie, Angie Bray, Zac Goldsmith, Caroline Lucas, Mary Macleod , John McDonnell, and John Randall.  The campaign groups will be represented by John Stewart, HACAN; Neil Keveren, Stop Heathrow Expansion (representing the Heathrow villages); Natasha Fletcher, Teddington Action Group; Elise Parkin; Brockley Aircraft Noise; and Peter Willan, Richmond Heathrow Campaign

(3). This is the text of the letter:

Dear Prime Minister,

We call on you to remember the promise that you made before the last General Election: “No ifs; no buts; there will be no Third Runway” and to reject any plans that might come forward for a third runway at Heathrow.

Yours sincerely,

Adam Afryie MP

Angie Bray MP

Zac Goldsmith MP

Kate Hoey

Caroline Lucas MP

Mary Macleod MP

John McDonnell MP

John Randall

Andy Slaughter MP

Baroness Jenny Tonge

John Stewart, Chair HACAN

Neil Keveren, Chair Stop Heathrow Expansion

Natasha Fletcher, Teddington Action Group

Elise Parkin; Brockley Aircraft Noise;

Peter Willan, Chair Richmond Heathrow Campaign

For further information:  John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650

Number of people disturbed by aircraft noise doubles in the last decade, according to Government survey

The number of people ‘significantly affected’ by aircraft noise has doubled in the last decade, according to the Government’s recently published National Noise Attitude Survey (1).   Four per cent of the population – over 2 million people – now consider themselves badly affected by noise from aircraft.  Another 9% say they are ‘moderately’ affected.  DEFRA, the Government department responsible for noise, has called the increase ‘strongly statistically significant’.

John Stewart, chair of HACAN, the group which campaigns for noise reduction around Heathrow, said, “The results are revealing.  This dramatic increase in the numbers disturbed by aircraft took place during a decade when planes were becoming a little quieter.  It can only be accounted for by the rise in the number of aircraft using UK airports.”

Stewart added, “It should act as a warning to those who argue that the noise climate around Heathrow will improve even if a third runway is built because of the introduction of quieter planes and improved operational practices.”

Neighbour noise remains the biggest problem with 26% of people saying they are moderately or significantly affected by it.  Road noise impacts 25% of the population.

ENDS

 Notes for Editors: The Government aims to publish the National Noise Attitude Survey every ten years.  Previous surveys were published in 1991 and 2001.  This survey is dated December 2014 but has recently been released by DEFRA.  The research for it was carried out in 2012:  http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=18288&FromSearch=Y&Publisher=1&SearchText=no0237&SortString=ProjectCode&SortOrder=Asc&Paging=10

For further information:  John Stewart on 0207 737 6641; 07957385650