Warning of 80 extra flights per night by 2020
The 2M Group is calling for a loophole in the current rules
on night flights over West London to be closed.
The Group warns that if the rules are not changed, a third runway at Heathrow Airport could lead to us all being
plagued by around 80 extra flights every night from as early
as 2020 – double the current number.
This could happen because, surprisingly, there are no restrictions on the number of aircraft that can land or take
off between 11-11.30pm and 6-7am.
Now the 2M Group, an alliance of local councils including Hammersmith and Fulham campaigning against a third runway at Heathrow, is calling for these early morning and late night "shoulder periods" to be included in the new night flight controls which are due for review in 2012.
Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister, speaking on behalf of 2M, says: "These 90 minutes
at the start and end of the day are like a get out of jail card for the airport operator. Whatever problems they are experiencing in accommodating additional flights during the rest of the day, they will have a free hand at these times.
"The Government has a duty to bear down on noise at night – for too long they have let the airlines off the hook during these unregulated shoulder periods. The 2M Group will be lobbying for a tightening of night flight controls when the current regime ends in 2012.
"Unless this loophole is closed communities could begin experiencing noise from night flights using the third runway from as early as 2020."
The 2M Group estimates that, based on existing usage between 6 -7am, around three quarters of the extral night flights would be on the third runway, with the rest coming from increased use of existing runways. Communities across West London would be affected by the extra noise.
The 2M Group, which took its name from the two million residents of the original 12 members, now represents 23 authorities with a combined population of 5 million people and is supported by the Mayor of London.
March 17, 2009
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