Stop Stansted Expansion welcomes call for an independent noise watchdog
SSE welcomes the call by London First for an independent noise ombudsman to protect people living near airports and under flight paths from aircraft noise. London Firstsuggests the ombudsman should have a range of powers including the ability to fine airlines that break noise limits. It believes this would help address the lack of trust and transparency between those pressing for airport expansion and local communities. SSE agrees with London First on these points. SSE has been calling for an independent noise watchdog since 2006 and has repeatedly been pressing the DfT, the CAA and MPs, to introduce independent oversight of aircraft noise and the other environmental impacts of airports on local communities. That would be preferable to the current situation where airport operators are themselves responsible for monitoring and reporting on the environmental impacts of their own operations, acting as judge, jury and policeman. It is not therefore surprising that there is so much mistrust amongst local communities in relation to the fairness and transparency of the current arrangements.
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Stop Stansted Expansion welcomes call for an independent noise watchdog
19.11.2013 (SSE)
Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) welcomes the call by London First for an independent noise ombudsman to protect people living near airports and under flight paths from aircraft noise.
London First, which represents many of the UK’s leading businesses, suggests that a new independent noise ombudsman should have a range of powers including the ability to fine airlines that break noise limits. It believes this would help address the lack of trust and transparency between those pressing for airport expansion and local communities.
SSE very much agrees with London First on these points. SSE has in fact been calling for an independent noise watchdog since 2006 and has repeatedly been pressing the Department for Transport, the CAA and MPs, to introduce independent oversight of aircraft noise and the other environmental impacts of airports on local communities.
At present, airport operators are themselves responsible for monitoring and reporting upon the environmental impacts of their own operations, acting as judge, jury and policeman. It is not therefore surprising that there is so much mistrust amongst local communities in relation to the fairness and transparency of the current arrangements for policing aircraft noise and other adverse environmental impacts of airports on local communities.
The French Government set up an independent authority over 12 years ago to control noise disturbance at airports. Amongst other jurisdictions, Frankfurt Airport in Germany has an independent noise abatement group as part of an agreement with local stakeholders.
The UK Government, however, has even entrusted airport operators to produce their own noise action plans. The UK is the only EU Member State which has left this important environmental task in the hands of the airport operators themselves.
SSE’s noise adviser Martin Peachey commented: “This is like being both poacher and gamekeeper at the same time. An independent noise watchdog is long overdue.”
http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/press468.html
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List of all recent SSE press releases at http://www.stopstanstedexpansion.com/media.html
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Earlier:
London First suggests an independent ombudsman is needed to deal with aircraft noise in London
Date added: November 7, 2013
London First is the business organisation that aims to “make London the best city in the world in which to do business” and which supports expanding London airport capacity, especially at Heathrow. It has produced a new short report called “More Flights, Less Noise” which recommends that, in order to get more flights over London, there should be a noise pollution tsar, to protect people living under flight paths. They say an independent noise ombudsman, with a range of powers including the ability to fine an airline that persistently broke noise pollution limits, would address a “basic lack of trust and transparency” between those pressing the economic case for airport expansion and local communities. London First say a similar scheme running in Paris since 2000 has been successful. Their hope of there being less noise stems from slight improvements by modern planes on aircraft noise. However, in reality the improvements are very small and these are more than outweighed if there are more flights. Communities being well informed about the noise is no substitute for reducing it.
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Paper : ”More Flights, Less Noise“
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London First say, describing themselves:
“We are a non-profit organisation with the mission to make London the best city in the world in which to do business. We aim to influence national and local government policies and investment decisions to support London’s global competitiveness.”