One noise sufferer’s struggle to cope with the noise burden of Heathrow flights under 3,000 feet overhead
Someone who is now dealing with depression has contacted AirportWatch about the difficulties they have with high levels of Heathrow aircraft noise – living 7-8 miles from the airport. There are flights nearby or overhead at under 3,000 ft, on easterlies. Some extracts from the letter are copied below (with their permission): “We are on Easterly Winds until Sat, meaning we have so much noise to come. I am doing my best to cope, but the thought of this much noise is hard to take. … It is not fair. … The thing I loved doing the most has been taking away from me – to be able to sit and read a book or study something new in peace, in my own home. I can’t do this anymore. It is so sad, as with the noise, I never will be able to sit in my garden and have dinner in the summer months. I brought my house and it was so lovely and quiet – now this has happened. … The noise is just getting too much for me. … Why this the government allowing this to happen? I have no support, no protection. My MP is in favour of a 3rd runway at Heathrow, and is unhelpful. … I didn’t choose to live under this. This government, and earlier governments, have brought this to me. I just can’t understand why it is allowed to continue. … When will it stop?” A letter received from the Dept of Health was unhelpful – just advising visiting the GP ….
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This is what one sufferer from Heathrow noise (especially when there are easterly winds and the airport is operating on eastlies) wrote:
16.1.2017
“We are on Easterly Winds until Sat, meaning we have so much noise to come. I am doing my best to cope, but the thought of this much noise is hard to take.
It is getting worse and worse, we seem to having noise every 30 seconds or so – on all three flight path routes (I think they have moved them close to our one).
It is not fair. I am really suffering with mental health issues and have been for a while now because of this unwanted noise.
The thing I loved doing the most has been taking away from me – to be able to sit and read a book or study something new in peace, in my own home. I can’t do this anymore. It is so sad, as with the noise, I never will be able to sit in my garden and have dinner in the summer months. I brought my house and it was so lovely and quiet – now this has happened
The noise is just getting too much for me.
Why this the government allowing this to happen? I have no support, no protection. My MP is in favour of a 3rd runway at Heathrow, and is unhelpful.
For me, the noise impact is perhaps 10 times what it is for someone else who may not be bothered by noise. I have ear plugs in throughout the day but the noise is getting through.
I didn’t choose to live under this. This government, and earlier governments, have brought this to me. I just can’t understand why it is allowed to continue.
I live 7 to 8 miles away from Heathrow’s runway. I have flights over my house at under 3,000 ft. They don’t bother climbing as they don’t have to (all to save money).
I now have noise from flights to right and left of me – it has become so concentrated. None of these were here when I brought my house and up until April 2016 the noise wasn’t as bad. It was bad – but wasn’t this bad.
It is getting harder and harder to take, and I just can’t see an end to this noise. It is just too much noise!
As I write this, a number of low flying planes have been over – how is this legal?
Because of the increased level of noise, and its apparent concentration,I know by the end of the week, with the unrelenting noise, I will have become so depressed and helpless. Having had depression problems, I have been there before.
Earlier, without the planes overhead, I was just getting back to normal (stating to feel happy), with 2 weeks off from the noise. But I am guessing someone else was suffering like me, while I was getting a break.
Now today, due to the wind change, I can feel myself already feeling anger, anxiety and soon depression (when it becomes hard to go on). I don’t have a good relationship with unwanted noise, I never have done, this is why we moved to Surrey.
Where is my support? Heathrow? DfT? My MP? My Council? None of these are listening to my issues.
It feels like a game – when will it stop? When someone does take their own life?
We need help!! ”
Response from the Department of Health
The writer emailed the Department of Health on 19th December, to say that the noise was causing them mental health issues – and ask if the Department could please do some research and offer some help.
The Department of Health reply is below – by email from donotreply@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Our ref: DE-XXXXXX
Dear X
Thank you for your correspondence of 19 December to Jeremy Hunt about aircraft noise. I have been asked to reply.
I was sorry to read of your health problems as a result of aircraft noise.
The Government’s overall objective on noise is to limit and where possible reduce the number of people in the UK significantly affected by aircraft noise, recognising that the routes used by aircraft and the height at which they fly are two significant factors that affect the noise experienced by people on the ground. The Government also expects the aircraft industry to play its part in addressing noise.
In the meantime, I can only advise you to talk to your GP about your problems with anxiety and depression.
I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.
Yours sincerely,
XXXXXXXX
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health
The noise sufferer commented that they had been to see their GP, and is waiting months for a therapy appointment, “which may not happen as they don’t think plane noise is a good enough reason (as they don’t live under a concentrated flight path).”