Heathrow flight trial draws 1,000 complaints (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Heathrow flight trial draws 1,000 complaints

5:50am Wednesday 30th January 2013 in News

More than 1,000 people in Wandsworth have complained of increased noise since Heathrow's flight pattern trials began just three months ago.

During the testing period more planes are allowed to land during half-day respite periods when residents would normally expect a complete break from overhead planes.

Residents living under the flight path have inundated Wandsworth Council, who are carrying out a survey to test public reaction, with complaints since the trials began in November 2012.

Under the established 'runway alternation system' Heathrow is only permitted to use one runway for take offs and one for landings - their use is switched everyday at 3pm.

An alliance of more than 20 councils say the noise impacts of Heathrow’s flight pattern trials are being ignored by the airport operator.

The all-party 2M Group, which represents millions of residents in boroughs around the airport, is calling for a detailed social survey to measure the distress caused by changing noise patterns.

Ravi Govindia, 2M spokesman and leader of Wandsworth Council, said: "In Wandsworth we have now received more than 1,000 reports of increased noise distress since the trials began.

"It would be a serious flaw in this process if no attempt is made to properly analyse the impacts on our community's quality of life."

2M has long been campaigning against attempts to end runway alternation at Heathrow and defeated the previous Government's plans for a third runway in the High Court.