Council sounds the alarm over new aircraft noise threat

6.53.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 1st Jul 2008

• THE spectre of increased aircraft noise over the borough has met with a strong protest from Richmond Council.

Proposals by the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) for a new flight path would have a serious impact on the borough. If approved, the new flight path for takeoffs would pass close to Whitton, Twickenham, St Margarets and Kew. The Council estimates that over 19,000 people in the borough would endure increased noise misery as a result. In response to the NATS consultation on the proposals, Council Leader, Cllr Serge Lourie, said: "The most disturbing aspect of the NATS proposals is the scale of the extra noise that would be imposed on our residents. We have only just discovered that over 19,000 people in the borough will suffer extra noise and less respite. NATS have not examined any alternatives to this proposal and there has been no adequate justification for this noise increase. In addition to disturbing a great number of residents, the proposal would mean that aircraft would fly closer to Kew Gardens and the Deer Park, adding to the existing noise burden and eroding the vital, tranquil periods there."

Cllr Lourie described the NATS consultation, which ended last week, as "wholly inadequate." And he added: "We have recently responded to the Department for Transport consultation on the proposed expansion of Heathrow which threatens us with more noise from a third runway plus intensification of existing runways. We now have this new threat. We firmly believe that an expanded Heathrow will be wrong for the area, wrong for the borough and that the economic case for it has not been made. We view this NATS proposal in a similar light; that this has more to do with expanding Heathrow than the promotion of safety. We, therefore, strongly oppose these plans."