Leeds Bradford Airport told to cut noise levels
23.12.07
Noise pollution at Leeds Bradford Airport must be cut to meet the EU environmental policy, according to the findings of a Government study. The airport has been told to produce a plan to tackle excessive noise, after falling foul of sound limits set out in the EU's Environmental Noise Directive.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published maps to outline areas around the country's major airports that suffer noise nuisance. Its findings mean 18 of the country's airports, including Leeds Bradford, have to come up with a plan to reduce noise before another assessment in five years' time.
At its loudest, aircraft using Leeds Bradford Airport create 75 decibels of noise, affecting areas directly under its flight paths and extending just into the tip of a residential area of Yeadon. The new noise map shows how noise pollution drops with distance from the airport and areas above the 55 decibel limit reach as far north as Guiseley Moor and south through the centre of Horsforth.
A Defra spokesman said: 'Under the EU's Environmental Noise Directive, 55 decibels during the day and 50 decibels during the night are the levels at which noise is deemed an irritant. 75 decibels is the same as a normal conversation or a vacuum cleaner and louder than a busy street. That level of noise constantly is an irritant.'
Leeds Bradford already has some restrictions to limit noise pollution. Aircraft depart by flying over less-populated areas, there is a limit on how many aircraft arrive and depart at once, and only the quietest aircraft are allowed to fly at night.
It also operates a noise and track monitoring system that continually records aircraft noise, windows of nearby residential properties have been fitted with a third pane of glass and in some cases, air conditioning fitted to homes.
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