Have your say on new Heathrow airport consultation on noise mitigation
BAA compensation scheme more generous than before but ‘will still leave a lot
of people disappointed’
to compensation and mitigation under BAA’s new scheme, which went out to public
consultation yesterday (1). But HACAN argues that the scheme still does not reach
everybody disturbed by aircraft noise. Under the new scheme BAA is preparing to
extend the area where people are entitled to help with moving house if they want
to escape the noise. It is also proposing to help more people pay for double-glazing.
HACAN chair John Stewart said: “The scheme is more generous than before. We welcome
that. But there will still leave a lot of people under the flight paths disappointed
that they will not be entitled to help. Consultation details
Responding to today’s launch by BAA of its consultation on Heathrow Airport’s
noise mitigation schemes, Hounslow Council’s deputy leader, Councillor Ruth Cadbury,
called on the whole community to mobilise to seek major improvements to the company’s
proposals.
She said: “Heathrow is the world’s busiest international airport, making a big
contribution to the UK economy and to BAA’s profits, but local people are still
being short-changed when it comes to insulation against aircraft noise for homes,
schools and community buildings.
“Our initial thoughts on BAA’s proposals leave not just Hounslow’s residents
but everyone living around the airport with a noise mitigation scheme that is
seriously inferior to those which apply around many comparable airports in the
UK and the rest of the world.
“This is just not acceptable, given the proximity of the airport to such a densely
populated borough, and we will be asking BAA to reconsider the geographical coverage
of the whole scheme with a view to ensuring a greater proportion of the affected
community will qualify.
“We want everyone who lives, works and learns in the borough to study BAA’s proposals,
think very carefully about what these mean for their own circumstances, and respond
to the consultation. This is particularly relevant for the people of Cranford,
where the abolition of the Cranford Agreement will significantly increase the
levels and frequency of disturbance caused to this community. I also hope that
as many people as possible will be able to attend the drop-in sessions and exhibitions
being held by BAA so that their views are heard.
“While the airport does bring local, as well as regional and national benefits,
we want Heathrow to be a better and more considerate neighbour, and that means
putting in a noise mitigation scheme that will make a tangible difference to the
quality of life of the communities living around the airport.”
Plan for the airport – being produced by the company on behalf of the UK Government
under the requirements of the European Noise Directive.
of the company’s Draft Noise Action Plan last year, but the final version of the
plan is now seriously overdue.
Councillor Cadbury added: “We are continuing to press BAA and the Government
for early publication of the Heathrow Noise Action Plan so that we can see the
full set of proposals for dealing with the disturbance suffered by local people.”
website. Special attention is being given to noise mitigation for the people
of Cranford, where the abolition of the Cranford Agreement will significantly
increase the levels and frequency of disturbance caused to this community.
Between 9 May – 1 August Heathrow is running a public consultation on a review
of its noise mitigation schemes. The proposed new schemes have been designed to
cover a wider area than before and offer improved mitigation than the current
schemes for those most affected by Heathrow’s operations.
The proposed new schemes have been designed to cover a wider area than before
and offer improved mitigation than the current schemes for those most affected
by Heathrow’s operations.
At the heart of our proposals is our wish to develop a fair set of noise mitigation
schemes which respond better to community concerns. The consultation also explains
how these schemes reflect any changes brought about by the ending of the Cranford
Agreement.
Consultation document downloads
Public consultation – main document (5MB PDF)
Public consultation – summary (2MB PDF)
Our proposed new schemes are based on a set of noise contours that give greater
emphasis to aircraft noise at more sensitive times of the day. For the proposed
boundaries for the schemes, view our boundary map
If you would like to give us your feedback on our proposals, please click on
the link below for a copy of the feedback form. This can be printed and completed
and returned freepost at the address provided. Alternatively you can email it
to us at heathrowcommunityrelations@baa.com
Download the feedback form – standard version (165KB PDF)
Download the feedback form – interactive version (270KB PDF)
Public exhibitions – details at link
We are proposing to base the new schemes on ‘Lden’noise contours. These are a type of Leqmetric and areused to describe noise exposure for different types oftransport noise (road, rail and air). Ldendiffers from thetraditional Leqmetric because it measures the averagenoise levels over 24 hours and adds extra weighting toaircraft noise occurring during the more sensitiveevenings and night periods.
Because of the additional weighting applied to eveningand night noise events Ldencontours are typically largerthan the Leqones for the same decibel value. We believethey provide a fairer basis for setting the boundaries ofour new mitigation schemes.
Improvements to our proposed new schemes include:
• Widening the geographical area in which people areeligible to apply for the schemes
• Introducing a zoning system, where the amount ofmitigation on offer will vary by zone. Residents inZone 1 for example, will be eligible for 100%funding from BAA for noise mitigation in the formof double glazing
• Increasing the range of funding or mitigation optionsavailable. For residential properties we propose toextend the range of approved insulation productsthat are available. We also propose to extend theCommunity Buildings Noise Insulation Scheme toinclude new approved products (for example roofinsulation where feasible) and grants for projectswhich either support outdoor learning by reducingnoise, or the perception of noise, or allow trips bypupils to quiet areas
• The Home Relocation Assistance Scheme providesfinancial assistance to local residents relocating fromthe eligible geographical area. We propose toincrease the maximum payment for those in Zone 1to £15,000, and to introduce a new, payment forhomes in Zone 2 (up to a maximum payment of£7,500). As a result of these changes an additional7,500 properties will become eligible for this scheme.
A table summarising these changes can be found inthe next section.
We plan to make changes to all of our existing schemesexcept for the Night Noise Insulation Scheme. This isbecause this scheme is aligned to the existing nightrestrictions, set by the Government. The current restrictions and scheme run until October 2012 andthe Government is expected to consult on futurerestrictions ahead of this date. All eligible residents willhave been invited to take part in the scheme by the endof 2011.
The schemes will last for 10 years and will be reviewedafter 5 years.
Have your say on airport consultation on noise mitigation
Around 90% of Hounslow’s residents are opposed to any further expansion at Heathrow.
These are the council’s top ten reasons for saying NO to expansion on behalf
of those residents:
1. More planes
The government’s proposals could double the airport’s capacity in a decade allowing
Heathrow to handle 151 million passengers and 800,000 flights every year.
2. More noise
More planes means more noise. The government’s own research shows that more than
2 million people will be affected by noise from Heathrow.
3. More pollution
More planes means more pollution. Heathrow’s contribution to climate change through
CO2 emissions will increase and an additional 21,000 people will be exposed to
dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide.
4. No more quiet periods
Scrapping runway alternation and replacing it with mixed mode will mean no more
quiet periods for people living, working and being educated in Hounslow.
5. Noisier schools
Research shows that aircraft noise effects children’s education and yet the government
and BAA are refusing to meet the full cost of protecting Hounslow’s schoolchildren
from that noise.
6. Noisier nights
The government has promised not to increase night flights at Heathrow until 2012
but if expansion goes ahead we expect the industry to push for more night flights
on all three runways.
7. Poorer health
The World Health Organisation stresses the importance of understanding the health
impacts that airport noise and pollution have on local communities but the government
has repeatedly refused to look into this issue.
8. False economy
The government’s economic arguments on the economy don’t add up. We say make
Heathrow better not bigger.
9. Unsustainable development
Heathrow has already reached the limits of its sustainable development. We don’t
have the roads, houses, schools or social infrastructure to support any further
expansion.
10. Concerns over safety
Allowing an additional 320,000 planes a year to fly in Europe’s most congested
airspace raises some very serious questions about safety.