Vince Cable warns of 'major battle' over Heathrow aircraft noise
03.09.11
Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned of a major battle between residents and BAA if two trials of mixed mode operation at Heathrow lead to households suffering increased aircraft noise, thisislondon reports. He said runway alternation at the airport was an important safeguard for people living under its flight paths.
The Government has given Heathrow greater flexibility to use both simultaneously during two trials, in a bid to reduce the time planes circle before landing. It hopes the change will cut emissions and noise pollution. The airport will start its first three month test in November, followed by a second during next summer’s Olympics.
Mr Cable said: ‘There’s a commitment by the Government to protect runway alternation as a way of mitigating noise and that has not changed. But there’s a general problem about the way the airport is operating because of the large amount of stacking above the airport, all the waste of fuel and environmental damage.'
‘You can understand why they are trying to be efficient. My view as a local MP is we must not compromise the protections for residents in respect of aircraft noise. If there is a proposal to scrap the protections for residents in respect of noise then there will be a major battle over it and I will certainly be fighting to protect the position of our local people, for whom this is a major preoccupation.’
A BAA spokeswoman said the trials would not lead to any more flights, but added: ‘We recognise that some residents are concerned about aircraft noise, which is why the new rules are being operated on a trial basis before the Government decides whether they should be adopted more permanently.’
She said the measures could reduce airport delays, carbon dioxide emissions and the number of unscheduled night flights, which would benefit neighbouring households, the environment and passengers.
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