Fantastic demonstration in Luton against night flights

Dozens of campaigners concerned about the proposed doubling of night flights at Luton airport rallied at Luton Town Hall and handed in a 1,000-signature petition calling for planning controls to limit any further increase in night noise and disturbance to people’s sleep. The event was a huge success and shows just what people power can do.  To the chant of “What do we want? No More Night Flights! How do we get it? Planning Controls!” the protestors made the point that Luton Borough Council needs to act responsibly in order to limit the continued growth of an airport which campaigners claim is in the wrong place for any further expansion. The airport wants to almost double the number of passengers, up to 18 million per year, and has set such a high night noise quote and noise cap that it could double its night flights to 16,000 per year and still be within its so-called limits.

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Fantastic demonstration in Luton !

Luton protest 14.3.2013

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Dozens of campaigners concerned about the proposed doubling of night flights rallied at

Luton Town Hall to hand in a 1,000-signature petition calling for planning controls to limit

any further increase in noise and disturbance to people’s sleep at night. The event was a

huge success and shows just what people power can do.

To the chant of “What do we want? No More Night Flights! How do we get it? Planning Controls!” the protestors made the point that Luton Borough Council needs to act responsibly in order to limit the continued growth of an airport which campaigners claim is in the wrong place for any further expansion.

Night noise from aircraft has been shown by the World Health Organisation to cause serious health damage when it disturbs people’s sleep. They have issued airport noise guidelines for Europe, and recommended a noise level at which the “noise footprint” of an airport should be measured. The CAA has also recognised the damaging effects of noise at night, in a recently commissioned review of current research.

Speaking at the rally, Andrew Lambourne said “Given the fact that Luton Airport is so close to its town centre, and that its planes fly directly over other large communities when they take off and land, it’s crazy for it just to go on growing and growing with no planning controls whatever. Last time they went to planning, they were aiming at 5 million passengers – now they are double that and aiming at 18 million- which means before we know it thay will be on the way to 30 million. The Airport has set such a high night noise quote and noise cap that it could double its night flights to 16,000 per year and still be within its so-called limits. Luton Council needs to put its foot down on behalf of the citizens of Luton and surrounding towns and villages and say enough is enough by putting strict planning controls in place.”

 http://www.hale.uk.net/category/news/

 

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HALE also says:

There is still time to make a difference!

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You can still submit planning objections to Luton Borough Council by emailing developmentcontrol@luton.gov.uk even though the original deadline has passed. Remember to refer to planning application 12/01400/FUL and include your name and address.

The planning team recognises that the magnitude of the project – and in particular the sheer number of documents which have been submitted and are on the planning portal – made it difficult for people to respond within the restricted period. Therefore although the LBC planning website form is no longer open, people and campaign groups may still provide their comments and objections by email.

The planning team is working through the technical objections in particular, producing a summary of the main points to present to the Planning Committe when it meets. The date for that meeting is the final deadline, and has not yet been set.

In the meantime HALE encourages everybody who has not yet submitted their objection to do so – and also to keep an eye out for news of forthcoming publicity events which will help to spread the word more sidely to local people.

 

NightFlights 3

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Earlier:

Bed protest. Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire residents call for a cut in Luton airport night flights

Bed_protest_HALE_Feb_2013

February 19, 2013    A group of protestors arrived at Luton Borough Council on 15th February to deliver a bed signed by people who are fed up with night noise from Luton Airport. The BANN (Beds Against Night Noise) protest was given good media coverage and made the point that it’s not only Hertfordshire which suffers noise and disturbance – plenty of residents in Bedfordshire are also woken up by late night arrivals, cargo planes and early morning departures. One of the protesters said the PR spin in Luton airport’s Master Plan claimed they would ”consult” the public, and they were taking noise seriously by adding 6 new noise mitigations. However, those so-called mitigations would only affect a fraction of 1% of the total flights – and Luton plans to double night flights between 10pm and midnight and start the morning departure rush at 5am, which is utterly unacceptable. Local people are now demanding that there is legislation to control night flights at Luton in the same way as at other London airports. There is currently a petition to significantly reduce night flights at Luton, not increase them.   Click here to view full story…

 

Luton local residents say “Enough is Enough” on aircraft noise – and do not accept the planned expansion

February 15, 2013 Luton airport has a consultation – that ends on 18th February – into their planning application, to almost double the number of passenger, from around 10 mppa now to 18mppa before 2030. The extra flights would mean a lot more noise for those living locally under flight paths. One of the local residents’ groups, LANAG, has now submitted its response to the consultation, and say that while local residents support the desire for Luton to have a top quality airport, the airport already has twice the number of people affected by noise than there were in 2002 and 4 times the number of aircraft movements at night. They therefore say, “Enough is Enough” and do not accept the increases in aircraft movements and noise that would result from expansion. LANAG wants no more people affected by noise than currently , and say there must be a plan to take 2,800 people out of an environment that, according to the WHO is deleterious to health – due to noise levels. Click here to view full story…