Noise fears over runway changes
Thursday August 26, 2010
Residents living under the Heathrow flight-path face the prospect of all-day aircraft noise for six weeks starting from next month.
BAA say they will be suspending runway alternation from September 13 while repairs are made to the roads that planes use to taxi onto the northern runway.
It means that when aircraft make their final approach to the airport over London they will use the southern runway all day without the usual break at 3:00pm.
BAA claim the suspension will affect daytime operations only, with night-time alternation unchanged, meaning there should be no additional flights before 6:00am.
But councils in the 2M Group – which campaigns on behalf of communities affected by Heathrow operations – are still warning that residents in Fulham, Putney, Battersea, Wandsworth, Barnes, Richmond and Hounslow could all be badly affected.
Cllr Nick Botterill, Deputy Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, has called on the airport owners to ensure the works are completed on time. He says: “We will be watching BAA very closely as the relief offered by runway alternation is priceless to local people.
“Last year we forced the Government to back down on their plans to end the 3:00pm change-round. It was the first major victory in our ultimately successful campaign to stop uncontrolled expansion at the airport.
“We understand why BAA has to do the work but there is no doubt it will give residents an unwelcome taste of what would have happened had we not won that battle.”
The tarmac taxiways next to the northern runway are laid on top of concrete blocks. Checks have shown that some of these blocks could become unstable and need to be replaced to avoid debris getting into aircraft engines, according to BAA.
For more information call BAA on 0800 344 844 or email noise_complaints@baa.com.
The 2M website is at www.2MGroup.org.uk (opens new window).
