‘One plane every 90 seconds for 13 hours if Heathrow third runway is built’

Noise pollution: a jumbo jet comes in to land at Heathrow

Joe Murphy @JoeMurphyLondon|Political Editor

4 August 2014

Tens of thousands of people in west London will lose half of their daily “noise-free” moments if a third runway goes ahead, campaigners said today.

Some areas would have planes passing overhead every ninety seconds for a “nightmarish” 13 hours a day, anti-expansion group Hacan claimed.

The warning comes after Airports Commission chief Sir Howard Davies signalled that his report, due next summer, will recommend at least one new runway for the South-East, with Heathrow and Gatwick shortlisted for expansion.

Hacan said it discovered the noise data “buried” in an appendix to one of Heathrow’s reports sent to the Davies Commission and “slipped out” before the holidays.

Residents under the southern flight path, including areas such as Richmond, would lose almost four hours of peace, it claimed. They currently enjoy an eight-hour break when the planes switch runways at 3pm, but this would drop to just over four hours.

People living under what is now the northern flight path would continue to get about eight hours of respite but Hacan claimed this would be spoiled for many because they would hear aircraft from one of the two other runways on either side of them.

John Stewart, chairman of the pressure group, said: “The prospect of 13-hour flying is nightmarish. Quite simply, many communities are going to be hammered if a third runway is built.

“Heathrow Airport hasn’t hidden the information but the fact that it is buried in an appendix shows how reluctant they are to spell out the implications of a new runway.”

A Heathrow spokesperson responded: “We have sought to maintain the principle of runway alternation and have submitted several flight path options to the Airports Commission.

“This includes a scenario that optimises periods of predictable respite, which local communities have told us is more important than exposing new communities to noise. If a third runway is recommended, we plan to consult with local communities on how respite could be delivered.”

The Conservatives are likely to drop their 2010 pledge to rule out a third runway when they publish their 2015 manifesto. The Liberal Democrats are expected to continue opposing Heathrow expansion but are debating whether to drop their opposition to Gatwick having a second runway.

‘One plane every 90 seconds for 13 hours if Heathrow third runway is built’

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