Council plans to make Heathrow noise free » Local Government » 24dash.com

People living near Heathrow should have the right to a noise free future according to council bosses.

Heathrow could become the world’s first noise free airport if plans being drawn up by environmental experts are given Government backing.

The announcement was made as BAA admitted publicly that the number of people affected by noise from Heathrow was double their previous estimates.

BAA made the admission as it revealed its own noise action plan, which campaigners say makes no firm commitment to reduce noise.

Cllr Barbara Reid, lead member for aviation at the London Borough of Hounslow, which is close to Heathrow, said:

“We want Heathrow to be the best airport in the world. This can only happen when the Government stop trying to make it bigger and start making it better.

“One of the ways they can do this is to make Heathrow a world leader in addressing the impact that noise has on local communities. That’s why our environmental experts are now working on an alternative plan to make the airport as noise free as possible.”

BAA has been required by the Government to produce a noise action plan and then consult with the public.

Council bosses are now urging the public to respond to the consultation by calling on BAA to adopt an alternative plan to make the airport noise free.

The key points of the plan to make Heathrow as noise free as possible will include:

• Saying NO to a third runway
• Saying NO to more planes at Heathrow
• Saying NO to Mixed Mode
• A permanent ban on night flights
• Introducing measures to ensure that all planes are close to full capacity
• Introducing a scheme to ensure that all schools under a flightpath can meet international standards for noise
• Introducing a scheme to ensure all homes under a flightpath can meet international standards for noise
• Introducing a scheme to ensure public buildings under a flightpath can meet international standards for noise
• Undertaking a full Health Impact Assessment on aviation noise from Heathrow
• Introducing a scheme to accelerate technological advances towards quieter aircraft