Mayor of London figures refute Heathrow claims of less aircraft noise with a 3rd runway
Figures published by the London Mayor “blow out of the water” Heathrow’s claim that overall noise levels would fall if a 3rd runway was built, Heathrow campaigners said. The figures, part of Boris Johnson’s report on the Estuary Airport submitted to the Airport’s Commission last week, showed Heathrow’s claims assumed the new runway would be operating at only one-third capacity. They also argued that Heathrow was too optimistic about the introduction of quieter aircraft. The Mayor’s figures, based on a study he commissioned from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), showed if a 3rd runway was built more than 1m people would be impacted by noise, up from 725,000 today. (55 Lden). While Heathrow is trying to claim 50% more planes will mean less noise, in reality the noise will rise. Heathrow still has not found a way to deal with the politically toxic problem of noise. A 3rd runway would mean people would be disturbed in new areas of London and the south-east. Areas from Kensington to Deptford would be within the noise contour.
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Mayor of London figures refute Heathrow claims on aircraft noise
Thursday 29th May 2014 (Surrey Comet)
Figures published by the London Mayor “blow out of the water” Heathrow’s claim that overall noise levels would fall if a third runway was built, campaigners said.
The figures, part of Boris Johnson’s report on the Estuary Airport submitted to the Airport’s Commission last week, showed Heathrow’s claims assumed the new runway would be operating at only one-third capacity.
They also argued that Heathrow was too optimistic about the introduction of quieter aircraft.
The Mayor’s figures, based on a study he commissioned from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), showed if a third runway was built more than 1m people would be impacted by noise, up from 725,000 today.
“They could be a game changer as they show that Heathrow still has not found a way to deal with the politically toxic problem of noise.”
The CAA study shows that if a third runway was built at Heathrow people would be disturbed in new areas of London and the south-east.
Heathrow said the number of people within its noise contour fell tenfold since the 70s, despite the number of flights doubling.
It said its modelling showed the number of people within the 55 Leq Heathrow noise footprint would be cut by 45 to 48 per cent by 2030, even with a third runway.
A Heathrow spokesman said: “These significant noise reductions are due to quieter aircraft, the third runway being located farther west, steeper landing approaches, and aircraft landing farther along all three runways.
“In its interim report the independent Airports Commission found that it is possible to add flights while continuing to reduce aircraft noise at Heathrow.”
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Boris’s press release said:
“Today’s evidence included studies conducted for TfL by the Civil Aviation Authority, which show that a third runway at Heathrow would bring the number exposed to severe noise to more than one million people. Areas that would be newly caught within Heathrow’s noise contour include Kensington, Chelsea, Chiswick and Deptford. By contrast a new airport in the Thames Estuary would expose less than three per cent of the same number to aircraft noise. The document adds that scientific studies have associated loud and sustained noise with adverse health impacts, including increased risk of hospital admission for stroke and cardiovascular disease, higher rates of hypertension and lower reading ages in children.”