Flight campaigner forced to move

A man who lived in the shadow of Heathrow Airport for more than 20 years today described how the incessant roar of aircraft ruined his life and made his wife clinically depressed.

But John Cavalla, one of eight people awarded £4,000 each in compensation by the European Court of Human Rights, says he was ever interested in financial reward.

Mr Cavalla, 76, and his wife Sheila, 72, used to live in Hounslow, six miles from the airport. But the noise became so great that the couple moved to Sunbury-on-Thames in 1996.

Mr Cavalla said: "Winning compensation is not the issue, I never wanted money. All we want, and the thousands of others still suffering, is for the night flights to end."

Along with seven other anti-noise campaigners, whose legal battle was funded by the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (HACAN), Mr Cavalla wants all night flights transferred to the day. It is estimated this will cost up to £30 million.

About 16 flights land at Heathrow every night. Most of these are flights from Asia, America and Africa and arrive between 4.30am and 6am.

Mr Cavalla said: "We used to lie in bed and be woken at 4.30am by the roar of the first flight.

"Then at 6am all hell would break loose and planes started landing every minute or so. It was an absolute nightmare and left us irritable for the rest of the day."

Judges in Strasbourg ruled last October that anyone living under Heathrow's flightpaths whose sleep is affected has had their human rights violated. The Government says this will lead to compensation claims from up to 500,000 people at a cost of £2billion and it is taking the unusual step of appealing against the ruling. A decision will be made within the next week whether an appeal will be granted.

Philippa Edmonds, another of the eight to be awarded compensation, said the Government "failed to understand the misery endured by thousands of residents".

Mrs Edmonds 47, who lives in east Twickenham with her husband Nick, 50, and their two daughters, eight-year-old Eve and Lucy, 10, added: "My husband has lived here all his life, it's our home - why should we move? We have double glazing and have to sleep with ear plugs.

"There's no way you can sleep with the windows open, because it's like being on the end of a runway, so it becomes unbearable in the summer. This fight is not about compensation, it's just about wanting a good night's sleep."

John Stewart, chairman of HACAN, said there was "no evidence" to support the Government's assertion that it would be "bombarded with compensation claims".

A spokesman from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions said: "Our position has not changed and it will be up to the European courts to decide if compensation is awarded.

"Heathrow has the strictest night noise regime of any major European airport and the decision to appeal does not mean any softening of the Government's tough approach to night noise."