Plane crazy as skies get busier with planes from City over Havering
over their homes quite literally shake them from their sleep.
Our picture shows the sky above Rise Park criss-crossed with vapour trails left
by planes which are flying past up to every four minutes, residents claim.
The increase is partly due to London City Airport redirecting its flight paths
over Havering, a spokesman admitted this week.
But the roaring noise and vibration is driving residents in Ayr Way plane crazy
with one now being forced to move just to get a full night’s sleep.
Jean Mason has lived in her home for 31 years, but has decided to go after the
flights turned her life into a living hell.
She said: “I’ve never had anything like this before. It’s the noise, the vibrating.
I can feel it through my bed.
“I’ve tried everything – sleeping upstairs, downstairs, buying a mat off the
internet that supposedly absorbs noise. But none of that worked. I’m 66 and I
don’t want to spend the rest of my life being tired.”
Jean said the planes had also decreased the value of her home.
Neighbour and artist Roy Amiss, who took our picture, has kept a log of the flights
and says they are most frequent between 7.30am and 9.30 and 4.30pm and 7.00pm,
sometimes jetting overhead every four minutes.
He said: “I’ve never seen so many aircraft. Early morning flights in particular
are quite low and noisy and disturbing our sleep.”
Havering Council came under fire earlier this year for failing to respond to
a National Air Traffic Service (NATS) consultation on redirected flight paths
over the borough.
The council may now have a second chance to comment on the redirected paths after
the NATS announced it would be holding a second consultation. The date is yet
to be announced. [ it is not likely to be before late 2010].
Leader of Havering Labour Group, Keith Darvill, who has condemned the council
for its inaction in previous full founcil meetings, added: “I think we’ve lost
our opportunity to do anything.
“The administration was not aware of the impact increased flights would have
over the borough.”
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell has also spearheaded a campaign calling on the Government
to review flightpaths over Havering.
He now plans to personally deliver his petition of 300 signatures to Downing
Street.