Heatwave blamed for record number of complaints about Heathrow noise

Date added: 15 August, 2014

Heathrow anti-noise group, HACAN, says nearly 300 people contacted it during July to complain about aircraft noise, more than three times the monthly average. The weather was warm in the south east in July, with a good summer. That means people spent more time outside, and they slept with windows open. That led to even more awareness of aircraft noise than there is in cooler weather. The record number of noise complaints was due to a combination of warm temperatures and a record 6.97 million passengers using Heathrow during July. John Stewart, Chair of HACAN said: “It puts into perspective Heathrow’s current consultation on compensation if a 3rd runway is ever built. You simply can’t compensate people for the disturbance of planes thundering over as they sit in their gardens trying to enjoy the summer sunshine….. Just imagine how much worse the noise could be with a third runway and at least 250,000 more flights each year using Heathrow.” Heathrow itself received 603 complaints about noise in July, only a slight rise on the 578 made during July 2013. Heathrow’s quarterly data on number of noise complaints show a considerable rise in recent years.
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Heatwave blamed for record number of complaints about Heathrow noise

13.8.2014

(Get West London)

Protest group HACAN says nearly 300 people contacted it during July to complain about aircraft noise, more than three times the monthly average

Chair of HACAN, anti noise campaign group, John Stewart takes the podium to discuss noise issues and solutions at the first ever aircraft noise summit at City Hall, today (11/03/14)

Last month’s heatwave led to a record number of complaints about aircraft noise at Heathrow, campaigners have claimed.

The anti-Heathrow expansion protest group HACAN says 297 people got in touch during July to express their irritation at jets thundering overhead.

That is about three times the 80-110 complaints it receives in an average month, though its hotline is typically busier during the summer as people spend more time outdoors or with their windows open.

HACAN chairman John Stewart blamed last month’s surge in complaints on a combination of searing temperatures and a record 6.97 million passengers using the airport during July.

“Open windows at night coupled with more outdoor activities has meant hundreds of thousands people in West London and beyond are having to put up with what at times seems like constant aircraft noise,” he said.

“It puts into perspective Heathrow’s current consultation on compensation if a third runway is ever built. You simply can’t compensate people for the disturbance of planes thundering over as they sit in their gardens trying to enjoy the summer sunshine.

“And of course, there is increasing evidence that too much noise is as bad for your health as too much sunshine.

“Just imagine how much worse the noise could be with a third runway and at least 250,000 more flights each year using Heathrow.”

Heathrow itself received 603 complaints about noise last month, only a slight rise on the 578 made during July 2013.

It said trials were being run this summer, which usually leads to more complaints, and there were none during the same period last year.

A spokeswoman added: “We have not seen an unusual number of complaints for the time of year. However, we continue to work towards reducing the impacts of noise for local residents.

“During the summer months, we usually experience an increase in noise complaints as local residents open windows and enjoy time outdoors.

“We recognise that as well as bringing huge benefits to the UK and the local communities, an airport of the size and importance of Heathrow can have downsides for people living nearby.”

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/heatwave-blamed-record-number-complaints-7606372

Heathrow data at http://www.heathrowairport.com/noise/what-we-do-about-it/our-reporting

Heathrow complaints data. These show a rise in the number of complaints over the past few years

Caller = person
Contact = number of times
Enquiries = number of issues

Year	Number of “enquiries” (complaints)	Number of contacts	Number of callers (= people)
2009 full year	4283	2485	1137
2010 full year	4172	2314	823
2011 full year	5383	3779	1226
2012 full year	17654	10417	2916
2013 full year	18717	12213	2769

2011 (Jan to June)	1842	1108	411
2012 (Jan to June)	3240	2309	733
2013 (Jan to June)	9996	5505	1373