Official: 50% of all flights are routed over Finsbury Park, Stoke Newington and Highbury
BAA has confirmed that half of all flights landing at Heathrow Airport are routed over densely-populated areas of North London. The company, which owns the airport, told pressure group HACAN ClearSkies (1), that many North London residents can expect hundreds of planes flying over their homes most days of the year. Planes land over London when the prevailing west wind is blowing (2).
John Stewart, Chair HACAN ClearSkies, said, “Aircraft noise is no longer a concern just for South West London. Over the last few years it has become a capital-wide problem. BAA has now confirmed to us that the residents of Finsbury Park, Stoke Newington and Highbury can expect half of all planes landing at the airport. This has been done without any warning or consultation.”
Stewart added, “Both BAA and the Department for Transport are reluctant to explain the reason for the big increase in recent years. In the absence of hard information we can only assume it has been done for operational reasons. But the result has been constant noise for many people in North London.”
Local resident Caroline Diehl said, “It’s summer, the birds are singing and the windows are wide-open — but in Hackney we can’t hear the birds sing and we are tempted to sleep with the windows shut. From 6.00am — and often earlier, aeroplanes roar overhead as they make their way down from Finsbury Park, over Stoke Newington and Dalston, to the Thames and Heathrow. The planes are equally noisy late at night. Our children are regularly woken, and we can’t sit outside and hear ourselves talk. It’s time to reclaim the skies as well as the streets! Make your voice heard now, before it’s silenced forever by the roar and whine of the jet engine.”
Notes for Editors
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HACAN ClearSkies is the well-established group which represents residents under the Heathrow flight paths.
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In a typical year, the west wind blows over London 70-75% of the time.
For further information contact:
John Stewart, 0207 737 6641 or 07957 385650
Caroline Diehl, 07980 212 814