New group formed in Tunbridge Wells, TWAANG, against increased aircraft noise from Gatwick

The area to the west of Tunbridge Wells, and the town itself, have found themselves increasingly affected by aircraft noise from Gatwick over the past year or more. Now the local councillor for The Pantiles and St Mark’s ward has backed the formation of a new local group to oppose the noise nuisance, which many are finding intolerable. The new group is TWAANG – Tunbridge Wells Anti Aircraft Noise Group, set up due to an upsurge in complaints about plane noise and to get the voice of Tunbridge Wells heard.  This group joins the many others that have sprung up recently, including Gatwick Obviously NOT – which originated around Penshurst, the Langton Green Village Society, the Speldhurst Action Group and the High Weald Councils Aviation Action Group. The new group is keen to work in conjunction with the other groups, avoiding any nimby tendency for each area to ask for the flight misery to be put over someone else.  The increased number of flights has been especially noticed this summer, due to altered flight paths and also Gatwick having a busier summer than usual.  The group’s email is TWnotogatwick@gmail.com and local people are urged to get in touch and sign up, if they are concerned about plane noise.

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A screen shot  from Gatwick’s Casper website, showing planes over two hours, arriving into Gatwick from the east. Many fly over, or close to, Tunbridge Wells at around 3,800 to 4,000 feet (ie. noisy)  http://flighttracking.casper.aero/lgw/

Tunbridge Wells and Gatwick

New anti-Gatwick group to fight the ‘intolerable’ noise

21st October 2015  (Times of Tunbridge Wells)

A borough councillor has thrown his support behind the creation of a Tunbridge Wells action group to coordinate the fight against ‘intolerable’ changes in Gatwick’s flight paths.

Cllr Lawrence Heasman, who represents The Pantiles and St Mark’s ward, said TW No to Gatwick is ‘in its infancy’ but had come about in response to an ‘uprising’ of people complaining about the recent surge in aircraft noise.

And while much of the surrounding countryside has seen action groups spring up to represent the villages and small towns affected, a group for Tunbridge Wells has been noticeably absent.

Overflights

He said: “I feel given the feedback I’m getting as a councillor that residents in Tunbridge Wells are fed up with the persistence of overflights.

“There are many residents’ groups that I’m sure would wish to join with TW No to Gatwick action group in order to get Tunbridge Wells’ voice heard.”

Mr Heasman said that although changes to the flight path started to have an effect last year, it took time before people really noticed the impact.

He added: “It’s only more recently that Tunbridge Wells became aware of the huge amount of flights overhead but people have realised it is now a lot more noisy.”

The fledgling group already has the backing of the Warwick Park Residents’ Association, Cllr Heasman said, with other associations showing an interest in signing up.

Mr Heasman is keen to capitalise on the review into flight paths which has been launched by Gatwick, as reported by the Times last week.

He said: “It’s a good thing a review is being held and it will be an opportunity to get our voice heard. I shall be attending a meeting with review leader Bo Redeborn next week at Gatwick.”

Mr Heasman is clear on his desire to co-operate with neighbouring action groups rather than look out for Tunbridge Wells alone and push the problem on to others.

He said: “We want the voice of this town in the mix, but it is vital we work with the other groups.”

But while the email address TWnotogat-wick@gmail.com has now been registered by Mr Heasman, he warned the group will not get very far unless people took a proactive approach.

He explained: “We need younger residents in Tunbridge Wells who can help set this up just as Gatwick Obviously Not has managed to do.”

Jo Howell, a Wealden district councillor who represents Frant, said she ‘welcomed’ the creation of a new group for Tunbridge Wells adding: “None of us chose to live next to an airport, but recently Gatwick has had a huge impact on people, businesses and tourism in this area.

“We don’t mind taking our fair share of flights, but we do mind taking all of it.”

Reaction

Sally Pavey, a committee member of Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (Cagne) also welcomed the creation of a Tunbridge Wells action group, adding that it is one of many new groups set up in recent months.

She said: “They are not alone, we are seeing the formation of many specific groups. It is a reaction of residents to the typical ‘go away’ letters from Gatwick.

“Until Gatwick accepts concentration of flight paths does not work, many more groups will pop up. We would very much like them to work with us in trying to resolve this.”

http://www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk/new-anti-gatwick-group-to-fight-the-intolerable-noise/

 

Screen shot from Casper on 29th October 2015  at 06:02:46  showing a plane from Dubai (OMDB) flying over Tunbridge Wells

Casper 29.10.2015 06.02.46 TOM 2989 ft and UAE at Tonbridge

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