Greenwich Council IGNORE London City Airport Blight on Residents

Just over a week ago FTF approached 15 elected officials in the London Borough of Greenwich by email, asking them if they had individually responded to the London City Airport Draft Noise Action Plan (DNAP). The individuals were chosen on the basis that their ward is either beneath the London City Airport flight path, or is a ward in which we have received complaints from residents regarding noise and pollution from LCY aircraft.

Out of 15 elected officials contacted, only one responded. The individual who did respond, to their credit was honest and declared that they had not been made aware of the DNAP and had therefore not responded, and apologised. However here is the list of elected officials who are paid to represent your best interests in the borough of Greenwich whom have failed to respond. FTF can only assume that they have made no effort at all to ensure that residents in Greenwich affected by LCY are taken account of and their best interests promoted in the response to the DNAP. Each ward listed beneath is a link to the individuals profiles.

peter.brooks@greenwich.gov.uk, Thamesmead Moorings Ward: In noise contour & crash zone

peter.kotz@greenwich.gov.uk, Thamesmead Moorings Ward: In noise contour & crash zone

jackie.smith@greenwich.gov.uk, Thamesmead Moorings Ward : In noise contour & crash zone

chris.roberts@greenwich.gov.uk: Peninsula

mary.mills@greenwich.gov.uk, Peninsula

dick.quibell@greenwich.gov.uk, Peninsula

clive.mardner@greenwich.gov.uk, Abbey Wood

steve.offord@greenwich.gov.uk, Abbey Wood

jagir.sekhon@greenwich.gov.uk, Abbey Ward

harpinder.singh@greenwich.gov.uk, Woolwich Common

rajwant.sidhu@greenwich.gov.uk, Woolwich Common

beverley.jones@greenwich.gov.uk Woolwich Common

len.duvall@london.gov.uk, GLA member for Greenwich & Lewisham

You cannot help but ask what these individuals are paid to do if they are not representing you on such important issues as responding to the DNAP and familiarising themselves with the effects on their residents of increased aircraft and jets from LCY? It's something worth considering when you get to the ballot box in a few months time.

Out of courtesy FTF have emailed Andrew Stern in the Greenwich Council Communications department with this item, asking him for his comment. We await his response.

Original email sent to the above elected officials

Saturday, 16 January, 2010, 13:44
Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you as Chair of Fight the Flights, the community group who campaigns against the expansion of London City Airport. You may be aware that last week the High Court gave our group permission for a legal challenge against the London Borough of Newhams approval of a 50% expansion of flights at London City Airport (from 76,000 flights up to 120,000) to a judicial review. The press release may be seen here: http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/2010/01/high-court-gives-fight-flights-green_5918.html

This correspondance however is requesting for information from you in regard to your response to London City Airports Noise Action Plan, (as required by the European Noise Directive 2002).

Please see the attached formal response from Fight the Flights to the London City Airport (LCY) Draft Noise Action Plan (DNAP). You have been sent this email as you either represent residents in wards in Greenwich that are affected and/or that FTF has received complaints from residents in your ward regarding LCY flight noise.

I understand that most of you would have been consulted as stakeholders and that you would have by now have submitted your own responses as the deadline of Friday 15 January has now passed.

The opportunity to respond to the DNAP was particularly important for Greenwich due to its UDP stating that 'Greenwich is sensitive to overflying by all types of air traffic'. Coupled with this, the vast, high density regeneration housing projects in West Thamesmead and beyond being covered by an ever expanding noise contour (encouraged by Greenwich Councils support of flight growth at LCY), the importance of Greenwich stakeholders and representatives having responded cannot be underestimated. The effects of LCY flights are not only isolated to Thamesmead Moorings ward but are felt in other wards throughout the borough.

Please could you indicated whether you have responded to the NAP consultation as an individual, or as part of a group?

We are intending to produce an article indicating who responded to the DNAPs consultation in the boroughs most affected by London City Airport operations and therefore we would appreciate your response. Greenwich is not the only borough who is being approached in this way.

If we do not receive a response then we will assume that no representation was made to the NAP by yourself. If you have responded then we would greatly appreciate a copy of your response in your reply.

We thank you for taking the time to read this email, and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely



Fight The Flights - "Fighting against the lies, fighting for the truth".

London City Airport Complaints Rise by 2,650%

In a freedom of information request to Newham Council it has been revealed that complaints made directly to them about noise from London City Airport have risen by a massive 2,650% over a period of 5 years.

Whilst Newham Council and London City Airport have gone to great pains to justify expansion, they have often claimed that complaint levels were low, alledgedly suggesting that there had not been any real increase in complaint levels over the years.

Even more shockingly, this massive increase only represents those complaints made directly to Newham Council. It does NOT include complaints made directly to London City Airport, National Air Traffic Systems, MPs, Councillors, the Civil Aviation Authority or any other London Borough such as Redbridge, Greenwich, Tower Hamlets, Barking & Dagenham, Bexley and Waltham Forest to name a few affected. We can therefore assume that this figure is just the tip of the iceberg.

To our knowledge these figures have never been made public before and indicate the increasing negative effect, and rise in complaints due to a continued increase in flights, and the use of jets at London City Airport. If we compare the increase to the percentage increase in the use of larger, noisier jets at London City Airport, there is a clear correlation.

Air Transport Movements – % of Jets Used at London City Airport - Provided by the Civil Aviation Authority:

2004 - 28%

2005 - 36%

2006 - 37%

2007 - 50%

2008 - 58%

2009 - [without data]

In 2004 there were just 28% of jets at the airport. By 2007 when the jets made up 50% of flights out of London City Airport complaints more than doubled in one year. With the last percentage of jets being stated at 58% by the CAA in 2008, and complaints having increased by over 2000% since, then it is clear evidence that the activities of London City Airport are disturbing and affecting the quality of life for more and more east and south east Londoners than ever before. What is more this snapshot of complaints from just one source shows that residents complaints have been growing incredibly fast, and have clearly been ignored and played down by Newham Council in discussions over London City Airport expansion.

FTF will be carrying out further research on the amount of complaints which are being received regarding London City Airport and we will report back with updates.

Greenwich Council Given Extra Time To Do Their Job

Greenwich Council have been given until the 22nd of Jan 2010 to get their NAP (Noise Action Plan) reply to London City Airport.

But it seems that the extension does not extend to the rest of the communities surrounding LCY.

It's interesting that this extension arose when "Fight The Flights" asked to see a copy of Greenwich Councils reply over the weekend after the public consultation closed on Friday the 15th of January, see London City Airports NAP page http://www.londoncityairport.com/LandingPage.aspx?Page=noiseactionplan

Greenwich Council seem to have gone into overdrive to save face and actually do something for their borough. They have contacted us and tried to claim that this extension was always there. Funny that no other council or resident knew anything about it and it was only reported after our contact with Council leader Chris Roberts.

So if this is true it seems that there is 1 rule for Greenwich Council and another for the communities. Why is the consultation not extended for everyone?

It's not that we don't want Greenwich Council to reply. It's just that we thought that they could have prepared their reply to the consultation in the 16 week allocated time frame given to everyone. It just implies a lack of commitment from the council to the areas in their borough that are affected by noise pollution from London City Airport.

Press Release: Greenwich Council Miss London City Airport Draft Noise Action Plan Deadline

Fight the Flights the residents group which campaigns against the expansion of London City Airport, were shocked to find out from the Leader of Greenwich Council, Councillor Chris Roberts, that the council have failed to submit a response to the London City Airport Draft Noise Action Plan. The consultation period ran from Friday 25 September until 15 January - 16 weeks in total.

The European Noise Directive requires London City airport to produce a noise action plan. This is intended to help protect communities from harmful environmental noise by preventing or reducing noise levels.

Greenwich Council who voted to support a 50% expansion of flights at London City Airport currently estimate that around 3000 properties are already affected by excessive aircraft noise in the Greenwich London City Airport noise contour. An additional 2000 properties are predicted to be in the noise contour when Tripcock Point in the far east of the borough is developed and more properties will be affected if the planned 120,000 flights per year goes ahead.

A spokesperson for Fight the Flights, commented: “we are very disappointed with Greenwich Councils failure to respond to the draft noise action plan as it offered a good opportunity to make sure that residents under the flight paths quality of life were not further eroded. It’s a missed opportunity and only residents will suffer as a result”.

Local resident Barry Griffin said that “This was a great opportunity for Greenwich to put residents best interests first after making such a poor decision to support flight expansion at the airport. We’ve already seen a further deterioration in our quality of life in Greenwich . They have let down 1000s of residents who already suffer from excessive noise levels from London City Airport ”.

ENDS.

Notes:

1. London City Airport Draft Noise Action Plan: http://www.lcy.co.uk/downloads/LCY%20Action%20Plan%20%20Main%20Document%20-%20Website.pdf

2. The Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EX )END) states (Article 1, Objectives) ‘ ‘The aim of the directive shall be to define a common approach intended to avoid, prevent or reduce on a prioritised basis the harmful effects, including annoyance, due to the exposure of environmental noise’

3. London City Airport were given permission to expand flights by Newham Council from 76,000 to 120,000 per year.

4.FTF launched a legal challenge in September 2009 to Newhams decision to grant approval to flight expansion. There are three aspects to Fight the Flights claim. In summary they are (1) that Newham failed to have regard to the Government’s policy on climate change and aviation; (2) that Newham failed to consult relevant neighbouring local authorities; and (3) Newham failed to consult the residents of those boroughs. A copy of the legal grounds are available on our website at http://fighttheflights.com/. FTF founded in 2007, is a non party political residents group covering all areas affected by London City Airport operations.

5.FTF works with not only the community and NGO‘s, but lobby’s decision makers.

Fightthefights.com

http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/

Contacts:

FTF Spokesperson: 07984 300558

Press Release: Boris backs call for public review of controversial new London City Airport flight path

At a packed meeting in Ilford last night (1) the London Mayor Boris Johnson backed calls for a public review of the controversial new London City Airport flight path introduced last year. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will review the flight path later this year but local residents fear it will be carried out in private. MPs and local authorities have been inundated with complaints from residents since the introduction of the new flight path. The CAA has said the take-off flight path is needed to cater for the increased number of jets using the airport. But it has resulted in aircraft noise being a problem for the first time across NE London . At busy times a plane is taking off over people’s homes at the rate of one every couple of minutes (2).

FTF spokesperson said, “This is great news that we have won the backing of Boris for a public review. Residents were not properly consulted before the flight path was introduced. Now is the time for a proper consultation. We feel residents will give a resounding No to the flight path.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor: 1. A recording of the Mayor of London's Environmental Question Time will be available on LBC: http://www.lbc.co.uk/ The Mayor's question time is a public event giving Londoners the opportunity to pose questions to the Mayor. 2.The Civil Aviation Authority signed off flight path changes for London City Airport (LCY) routes in May 2009 after removing the LCY proposals from the Terminal Control North Consultation process(which is being re-scheduled for other airport flight paths) without notification to those affected or stakeholders. The permission letter can be viewed at: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/7/20090220NATMACInformativeDecisionLetterLCA-PWRevision.pdf 3.London City Airport were given permission to expand flights by Newham Council from 76,000 to 120,000 per year in 2009.

4.FTF launched a legal challenge in September 2009 to Newhams decision to grant approval to flight expansion. There are three aspects to Fight the Flights claim. In summary they are (1) that Newham failed to have regard to the Government’s policy on climate change and aviation; (2) that Newham failed to consult relevant neighbouring local authorities; and (3) Newham failed to consult the residents of those boroughs. A copy of the legal grounds are available on request / or on our website at http://fighttheflights.com/. FTF founded in 2007, is a non party political residents group covering all areas affected by London City Airport operations.

5.FTF works with not only the community and NGO‘s, but lobby’s decision makers.

Fightthefights.com http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/ End.
Contacts:
FTF Spokesperson: 07984 300558

Darren Johnson announces 2010 Worst Planning Decision shortlist. London City Airport a contender!

Four of Mayor Boris Johnson’s most controversial planning decisions are in the running for London Assembly Member Darren Johnson’s annual “worst planning decision” award.

The Green Party AM gives the award, an inscribed breeze-block, for the planning decision he considers to be the most damaging, in parallel to the Mayor’s London Planning Awards.

This year’s shortlist for the prize is:

London City Airport, Newham
“Doubling the number of flights will mean huge increases in noise for residents and increasing carbon emissions from a Mayor who claims to lead the fight against climate change.”

Brent Cross Cricklewood, Barnet
“By waving through a development that will create a surge in traffic and air pollution, the Mayor has undermined city-wide efforts to improve air quality, and has done nothing to help severely affected centres in neighbouring boroughs.”

Columbus Tower, Tower Hamlets
“The Mayor intervened to help this 63 storey tower go ahead on the edge of Canary Wharf against the local council’s wishes, apparently because Crossrail money was at stake.”

Project: Ferrier Estate, Greenwich
“The Mayor gave no objections to this regeneration project, which will slash the number of social rented homes from 1,730 to 730 in a London borough with 13,486 households on its waiting list.”

Announcing the shortlist Johnson said: “The Mayor’s second year in charge of London’s biggest planning decisions has revealed his true priorities. Despite all his talk about sweetening the air and making London pleasant, he is waving through developments that will increase noise and pollution. The Mayor has overruled a local council for Crossrail money, but has shown little leadership in stemming the loss of affordable housing and the probable growth in congestion.”

The winner of the 2010 Worst Planning Decision Award will be announced in March, the day before the Mayor hosts the London Planning Awards in City Hall.

Press Release: ‘Have the people of East London not suffered enough?’ Campaign group urges Newham Council to reject bid for 2nd airport

Fight the Flights, which campaigns against the proposed expansion of London City Airport , has called on Newham Council to reject the application from Red Bull for a second airport in the borough. The drinks giant wants to create an airport, including runway, at the Royals Business Park to use during their annual air races. According to their planning application published this week, they want helipads and taxiway, aircraft hangers and control tower on the north side of Royal Albert Dock. Newham councillors will be asked to approve the scheme to cover the air events that take place along the River Thames up to 2015.

Anne-Marie Griffin, who chairs Fight the Flights, said, “Have the people of East London not suffered enough? MPs and local authorities from right across East London are receiving more complaints than ever before about the noise from the jets using City Airport . And now we have this proposal. We really just don’t believe Red Bull is proposing to spend all this money on a new airport just to use it for the occasional event. We fear they will come back time and again for permission to increase the use of the new airport, just as owners of City Airport have done over the years. ”

Last week Fight the Flights heard that it had been granted permission to go to the High Court to challenge Newham’s decision last year to give City Airport permission to increase the number of flights using the airport by 50%.

ENDS

For more information:

Anne-Marie Griffin on 07984 300558;

Alan Haughton on 07905156922

Press Release dated 12/1/10

Press Release: High Court Gives Fight the Flights Green Light to Judicial Review on "London City Airport" Expansion

The High Court has granted permission for Fight the Flights to take their legal challenge against Newham Council to a full hearing in the High Court. The Judicial Review will look at the legality of Newham Councils’ decision to approve the expansion of London City Airports’. The Court granted permission to proceed on all three limbs (1) of Fight the Flight’s case saying that all aspects of the case were properly arguable.

Anne-Marie Griffin, Chair of Fight the Flights said “This is another victory and a positive step towards justice for the residents of East London, many of whom were simply not consulted. Residents who have to put up with increased noise and air pollution as a result of Newham Councils decision to carry on expanding London City Airport expansion will celebrate this news.”

Phil Michaels solicitor for Fight the Flights at Friends of the Earth’s Rights & Justice Centre said "We are delighted that the Court has agreed that this case needs to be heard. The issues raised are important for local people and for the environment more widely. We look forward to the case being heard later this year.”

Notes to the Editor:

1. There are three aspects to Fight the Flights claim. In summary they are (1) that Newham failed to have regard to the Government’s policy on climate change and aviation; (2) that Newham failed to consult relevant neighbouring local authorities; and (3) Newham failed to consult the residents of those boroughs. A copy of the legal grounds are available on request / available on our website at http://fighttheflights.com/.

2. FTF launched its legal challenge in September 2009.

3. FTF founded in 2007, is a non party political residents group covering all areas affected by London City Airport operations.

4. FTF works with not only the community and NGO‘s, but lobby’s decision makers.

5. Friends of the Earth are committed to environmental justice and communities and provide free campaign and legal advice to environmental campaign groups: http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/fair_future/resource/rights_justice_centre.html

http://fighttheflights.com/ http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/

End.

Contacts:

FTF Spokesperson: 07984 300558

Phil Michaels – 020 7566 1725 / 07952 641 284

Jenny Bates - 020-7566 1633, mobile 07884 003107