London Assembly call for Mayor to oppose 2012 night flights

23.11.2009   (Mayorwatch)

The London Assembly has asked Mayor Boris Johnson to speak out against any attempt
to allow night flights during the 2012 Olympic Games.

A motion agreed unanimously at last week’s Mayor’s Question Time calls on Mayor
Johnson to write jointly with the Chair of the London Assembly to the Secretary
of State for Transport and his relevant counterparts in the opposition parties
to express their concerns.

Richard Tracey AM, who proposed today’s motion, said: "This is a very serious
issue for all Londoners, especially for those that live under the Heathrow flight
path. In London’s 2012 bid book, it projected that the arrival of the Olympic
family at Heathrow would represent just 1% of the hourly capacity – so to suggest
that night flights should be allowed during the Olympics is ludicrous."

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who amended the motion, said: "Many more Londoners than
you might expect are affected by night flights. For example recent research from
HACAN suggests that half of the top 12 boroughs affected by night noise are in
east or south London.

"If night flights are allowed for the Olympics, it could set the precedent for
the future. This motion sends a clear message that the London Assembly is against
the derestriction of night flights and relaxation of noise controls."

The full text of the motion reads as follows:

"The Assembly notes with great concern that the Civil Aviation Authority Olympic
and Paralympic Steering Group are considering the derestriction of night flights
and relaxation of noise controls for aircraft during the 2012 Olympics. The Assembly
believes it is unacceptable to impose further noise pollution from aviation on
Londoners, particularly at night. We are especially concerned that any increase
in flights during the summer of 2012 will adversely impact the majority of Londoners
who either live near an airport or are affected by the flight paths and circling
of planes across the capital.

The Assembly therefore requests the Mayor to write jointly with the Chair of
the London Assembly to the Secretary of State for Transport and his opposite numbers
in the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties expressing total opposition to
any attempts to ease restrictions on night flights or noise limits at any London
airports either for the 2012 Olympics or at any other time, and to publish the
responses on the GLA website."

 

http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/call-for-mayor-to-oppose-2012-night-flights/20099195