On final day of public inquiry, HACAN East wins concession on noise insulation for residents, if expansion allowed
On the last day – 5th April – of the Public Inquiry into London City Airport’s expansion plan, local residents group HACAN East won an important concession. This requires Newham Council to hold a council meeting each year to explain how it is overseeing City Airport’s commitment to provide sound insulation for local residents, if the expansion plans are approved. In the past Newham Council has not ensured done this. The result of the Inquiry is expected to be known in the summer. The Planning Inspector will make a recommendation to the Government, which will make a final decision on permission. If the airport does expand, it will build a new taxiway to accommodate larger planes. HACAN East is opposed to the expansion, but relieved that Newham Council will be held publicly accountable for enforcing the airport’s commitments. In its closing statement, HACAN East repeated its concerns about the insufficient noise mitigation measures promised to communities living within the 66db, 63db and 57db LAeq contours; the lack of any new measures to assist those outside the 57db LAeq contour; and the the absence of any work to assess the cumulative impact of London City and Heathrow aircraft on the many communities overflown by both airports.
.
Tweet
RESIDENTS GROUP WINS CONCESSION AT CITY AIRPORT EXPANSION PUBLIC INQUIRY
5.4.2016 (HACAN East press release)
On the last day of the Public Inquiry into London City Airport’s expansion plan, local residents group HACAN East won an important concession, requiring Newham Council to hold a council meeting each year to explain how it is overseeing City Airport’s commitment to provide sound insulation for local residents, if the plans are approved.
John Stewart, Chair of HACAN East, said: ”This is an important concession. In the past, Newham Council has not ensured that City Airport fulfilled all its promises to provide agreed insulation for local people.”
The Inquiry closed on 5 April and the result is expected to be known in the summer [1]. The Planning Inspector will make a recommendation to the Government, who will make a final decision to either grant or refuse permission for the Airport to expand.
If City Airport is allowed to expand, it will build a new taxiway to allow larger planes to use the airport. HACAN East is opposed to the expansion, but welcomed the decision that, if approval is granted, Newham Council will be held publicly accountable for enforcing City Airports commitments to provide better sound insulation for residents.
Ends.
Notes:
HACAN East’s closing statement to the Inquiry. http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56507de4e4b018da2a5ce870/t/5703a618ab48deec980d1034/1459856921310/HACAN+East+Closing+Statement.pdf
For more information
Rob Barnstone: robert.barnstone@outlook.com; 07806 947050
John Stewart: johnstewart2@btconnect.com; 020 7737 6641
HACAN East’s Closing Statement:
In our closing statement we address six relevant considerations for the Secretaries of State and the Inspector:
• The insufficient noise mitigation measures promised to those communities living within the 66db, 63db and 57db LAeq contours, as set down in the Section 106
• The lack of any new measures in this application to directly assist those outside the 57db LAeq.
• The absence of any work done to assess the cumulative impact of London City and Heathrow aircraft on the many communities overflown by both airports.
• The real doubts that still remain about the size of the Public Safety Zone that would result from expansion.
• The impact of expansion on the Blue Ribbon Network
• The inadequacy of the consultation processes including Newham Council’s oversight of it.
The document then goes into each of those in detail. …….
……..
Overall Conclusion
7.1 In conclusion, we believe the evidence has not been put forward which would allow the Secretaries of State to approve this application. Indeed, we would argue that parts of the application are contrary to both the Government’s aviation policy and the London Plan and thus it should be rejected. But, if this application is approved, it should be accompanied by
full-proof conditions to ensure all the planning agreements and section 106 planning agreements are fully implemented.
.
See earlier:
At London City Airport Inquiry, HACAN East calls for noise insulation to match the best in Europe
HACAN East, the resident-led group opposing expansion of London City Airport called for insulation offered by City Airport to match the best in Europe. The call came during the opening week of the Public Inquiry into the airport’s expansion plans. John Stewart, Chair of HACAN East, said: “If expansion goes ahead the number of people overflown by City Airport planes will be higher than that of any airport in the UK, other than Heathrow and Manchester. Airports like Frankfurt or Charles de Gaulle in Paris are twice as generous with the insulation schemes offered to residents as London City.” City Airport wants to enlarge its infrastructure to allow use by larger aircraft. Newham Council gave permission for the airport to expand in February 2015, but this was overturned by Boris Johnson on noise grounds the following month. The airport appealed against his decision. The result is this public inquiry. Lawyers for the Mayor argued in the opening week of the Inquiry that City Airport should compensate more people than it is prepared to do, if its expansion is allowed. HACAN East said they are concerned about the residents and communities outside the 57LAeq 16hr contour. Many of these people experience significant aircraft noise, but there is nothing in the airport’s application to deal with those impacts
Click here to view full story…
London City Airport appeal on expansion starts 15th March – blog by Alan on why Hacan East are fighting for the local communities
Newham Council granted planning approval in February for London City Airport’s plans for expansion, allowing an increase in the number of flights from 70,000 per year to 111,000 and almost double the number of passengers, up to 6 million a year by 2023. In March 2015 Boris Johnson refused the plans, on noise grounds. The airport appealed, and the hearing starts on 15th March. Alan Haughton, from the local campaign group Hacan East will be speaking at the appeal, against the airport’s plans, representing the interests of the local community. Alan has worked for many years, to oppose the high handed manner in which the airport (owned till very recently by GIP, as a means to make quick, huge, profit) rides roughshod over the interests of local people. In a blog, Alan explains why he and Hacan East have worked so hard, unpaid, to give their community a voice. Alan says: “What we see happening at London City Airport is happening across London. Developers and businesses, working closely with Local Councils, are forcing their will on Communities for profit. … We attend the Planning Enquiry with no QC, no legal representation, no ‘experts’. We can’t afford those. … For me though, it’s about justice, about community, about local residents and community groups standing together to defend our local environment.”
Click here to view full story…