‘More air traffic through Heathrow would ruin quality of hundreds of thousands of lives’

The Standard reports that the all-party 2M group of London Councils, including Wandsworth, Richmond, Hounslow and 17 more, have warned the Airports Commission that allowing both runways to be used for arrivals and departures at same time (= mixed mode)  would be ‘devastating’ to thousands of Londoners.  Alternating runways at 3pm each day gives residents a break from aircraft noise and removing this would destroy the quality of life of hundreds of thousands. The 2M group represents 20 councils and 5 million people under the flight paths. It is warning that allowing more plane traffic through ending runway alternation and having mixed mode instead would be as damaging as building a 3rd runway, and have a devastating impact.  On a typical day the first planes approach over South and West London from 4.30am. Intervals between aircraft are around 90 seconds.The 2M group want guarantees that alternating runways and limits on night flights will not be sacrificed so Heathrow can handle more flights. The Standard continues to push for a Heathrow 3rd runway.


 

‘More air traffic through Heathrow would ruin quality of hundreds of thousands of lives’

 Heathrow: ‘Mixed mode’ runway system would be devastating, warn Council bosses

– Allowing both runways to be used for arrivals and departures at same time would be ‘devastating’ say council bosses

– Alternating runways gives residents break from aircraft noise

– Evening Standard poll revealed third runway is most popular option among MPs

 – Heathrow: ‘Mixed mode’ runway system would be devastating, warn Council bosses
by Pippa Crerar and Mira Bar-Hillel  (Evening Standard)

13 November 2012

Relaxing restrictions on Heathrow’s existing runways would destroy the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of people, the Government’s aviation commission was warned today.

The all-party 2M group, which represents 20 councils and five million people under the flight path, warned that allowing more plane traffic would be as damaging as building a third runway.

Council bosses want guarantees that alternating runways – which gives residents a break from aircraft noise – and limits on night flights will not be sacrificed so Heathrow can handle more flights.

They claim that permanently allowing both runways to be used for arrivals and departures at the same time, the ‘mixed mode’ system thought to be of interest to David Cameron, would have a devastating impact.

Anti-Heathrow campaigners are now collating evidence for the commission, chaired by City heavyweight Sir Howard Davies, which was launched by the Prime Minister to examine the case for airports expansion across the UK.

It comes after a poll for The Standard revealed a third runway at Heathrow is the most popular option among MPs for solving the South-East’s air capacity crisis, despite the Prime Minister and Ed Miliband opposing the idea.

Heathrow, the airport owner, will unveil its first submission to the inquiry tomorrow.

In the past, the 2M group has blocked attempts to introduce mixed mode and overturned the previous Government’s plans for a third runway in the High Court.

The areas under Heathrow’s flight paths are the most densely populated parts of the country. On a typical day the first planes approach over South and West London from 4.30am. Intervals between aircraft are around 90 seconds.

Heathrow is currently required to use one runway at a time for arrivals. They are switched each day at 3pm to ease the impact on people living below.

The airport is also restricted to landing no more than an average of 16 aircraft between the hours of 11.30pm and 6am so residents under the flight path can sleep. Most of these arrive after 4.30am.

The 2M group will also tell the Commission that air pollution around the airport already breaches legally-binding EU limits and any expansion of flights would make the situation worse and face legal challenge.

Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth council and 2M spokesman, said: “No other airport in Europe has flight paths over such densely populated areas. We will urge the Davies Commission to dismiss any proposal that heaps more misery on these communities.

“The prospect of full mixed mode is just as distressing as a third runway and should be ruled out at the earliest opportunity.”

Derek Osbourne said, leader of Kingston council, added: “We cannot afford to lose the little protection people have against the noise and disruption which blights so many Londoners’ daily lives, affecting their health and stopping them getting a good night’s sleep.”

It comes as the London Assembly’s environment committee called for combined ‘noise maps’ for Heathrow and City airport to show how many residents are affected by aircraft noise from both.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/more-air-traffic-through-heathrow-would-ruin-quality-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-lives-8311982.html

 

.


.

2M Group

Speaking up for the community

The 2M Group is an all-party alliance of local authorities concerned about the environmental impact of Heathrow operations on their communities.

The group, which took its name from the 2 million residents of the original 12 authorities, now represents a combined population of 5 million people and was successful in 2010 in overturning plans for a third runway at the airport.

Members are keen to reduce night flights, preserve the relief provided to residents by runway alternation and strengthen noise and air quality controls in the areas around the airport. The group is not anti-Heathrow but works together to improve the environment and protect the quality of life for local people.

The membership is made up of the London Boroughs of:
Brent | Camden Ealing | Greenwich | Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey | Harrow Hillingdon Hounslow |Islington | Kensington and Chelsea Kingston Lambeth |Lewisham | Merton | Richmond | Southwark | Sutton | Wandsworth

and the boroughs of:

Reading | Slough | Windsor and Maidenhead Wycombe  |South Bucks

 

http://www.2mgroup.org.uk/