Tens of thousands of people are unaware of plans to allow more planes to fly over their homes.
Tens of thousands of people are unaware of plans to allow more planes to fly over their homes, the London Borough of Hounslow has warned.
Under radical plans to change the flight paths over Hounslow , an estimated 40,000 people in the borough could experience more noise from aircraft flying out of Heathrow airport.
NATS, the body which provides the UK’s air traffic control services, has undertaken what it claims is the biggest ever consultation on airspace change, which closed last week (Thursday, 19 June 2008)
In a strongly worded letter, council bosses have accused NATS of failing to consult the 40,000 residents who will suffer the negative impacts of its proposals.
In addition, the council’s submission to the consultation highlights three key concerns:
The proposed changes in airspace will facilitate further expansion at Heathrow
The proposed changes will lead to a deterioration in the noise environment at historic Osterley House
The consultation does not adequately consider the potential risks of the proposed changes
Cllr Barbara Reid, the council’s lead member for aviation, said:
“In the short term these proposals will provide some respite for a few people but tens of thousands of local residents will lose out.
“In the long term, these proposals prepare the ground for the development of a third runway which the vast majority of local residents oppose.
“Either way, these proposals will clearly mean more planes, more noise and more pollution for local people which is why the council has registered its opposition to the plans.”
The NATS proposals, which could be introduced even if the Government drops its plans to expand the airport, will mean more misery for residents living under the flightpath of the southern runway.
Under the plans, the aircraft route map across southern and eastern England would be redrawn and the route taken by planes taking off over London changed so that they fly over more homes in the south of the borough.
This means that many people already affected by noise from planes landing over London will experience more noise, more of the time.