'Devastating' Heathrow noise map

Noise created by a third runway at Heathrow would be "devastating" to thousands of Londoners.

Maps published by local authorities today show for the first time the effects of a new runway on much of the capital.

Aircraft approaching the runway at Heathrow would use flight paths over north and south London before beginning their final descent over Kensington, Chelsea and Hammersmith.

The councils have called on the Government to rethink its plans. Hammersmith & Fulham leader Stephen Greenhalgh, who represents the 2M Group, made up of officials from the affected boroughs, said: "The maps detail just how few parts of the capital will escape the effects of the proposed new runway. In west London, where all the flightpaths come together, the consequences could be devastating.

"The Government has not thought through the environmental consequences of allowing unrestrained growth at Heathrow."

Ministers are also expected to propose the end of runway alternation at Heathrow, which gives some noise relief to communities when aircraft switch runways at 3pm each day.

By allowing aircraft to l and and take off in parallel from the two existing runways, the Government hopes to boost the short-term capacity at Heathrow before a third runway is ready to open in 2015.

Heathrow's capacity was capped at 480,000 movements a year under the terms of the planning permission for Terminal Five.

However, ending runway alternation could increase this to 515,000 and the building of a third runway would facilitate more than 700,000 movements a year.

Wandsworth council leader Edward Lister said the move to increase capacity would cause major problems in the area.

"The loss of runway alternation would be felt particularly keenly in south and west London.

"At least under the current system you know you will get a break from the noise.

"If the Government gets its way, there will be no respite throughout the day," he said.

It is also believed large areas of South Bucks could be affected by the plans for a third runway, with the towns of Burnham, Farnham Common and Stoke Poges experiencing an increase in noise levels.

South Bucks council leader Peter Hard said it would inevitably have a negative impact on the area.

"The third runway will shatter the peace of the small towns and villages of the South Bucks countryside.

"When people realise just how badly they will be affected, there will be an outcry," he said.