Court challenge to early morning Heathrow flights
14.05.08
Wandsworth and Richmond councils are going to court next week in a bid to curb the number of early morning flights in to Heathrow. On average there are 16 early morning arrivals each day between 04:30 and 06:00.
Wandsworth, Richmond and Windsor and Maidenhead councils challenged the Government's night flight arrangements in 2005 after it was discovered that many of the planes flying before 06:00 were in the wrong noise category, including the popular Boeing 747-400 RR.
Lawyers for the councils will argue that, by failing to act on the mistake, the Government failed in its duty to protect residents from excessive noise at night The councils' lawyers are arguing the 747s should have been banned from flying into Heathrow before 06:00.
Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister said: ‘We are aiming to achieve some much needed relief for residents in the 04:30 to 06:00 period. Those aircraft types which break the rules should be grounded. The flaws we have discovered should have been corrected. Instead, ministers have been content for the airlines to maintain their full quota of flights.'
The judicial review will be heard by Mr Justice Sullivan on three days from May 20. The challenge is also backed by Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Hillingdon councils plus the GLA.
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