HACAN PRESS RELEASE: Major Report Confirms Aircraft Noise Levels in East London can Match Those in West London

For immediate use

The controversial research published last week by campaign group Fight the Flights which showed that aircraft noise levels in parts of East London can match those in West London has been backed up by earlier research carried out by the respected firm of acousticians, Bureau Veritas.

The report, No Place to Hide, published in 2007, found that the combined noise of Heathrow and City aircraft over Poplar matched the noise in parts of West London. It recorded 84 planes flying over in a two hour period, 45 Heathrow and 26 City Airport. The noise level of the Heathrow aircraft ranged from 60 – 69 decibels and the City aircraft from 64 – 82 decibels.

John Stewart, the Chair of HACAN, which represents residents under the Heathrow flight path and which commissioned the report, said, “Those sort of levels are higher than parts of West London. We can’t get away from the fact that aircraft noise has become a real problem in East London.”

Stewart was critical of City Airport’s reaction to the Fight the Flight’s findings, “the Airport cast doubt on the findings because they said they were not carried out in accordance with internationally-recognised methods of measuring aircraft noise or performed by independent professional acoustic consultants. Our report was and it came up with very similar results. Stephen Turner, the Director of Bureau Veritas is one of the country’s most respected acousticians. Indeed, his firm were the advisers to Newham Council when it approved plans for the expansion of the airport. The bosses of City Airport have to come to terms with the fact that they work in a very noisy industry and not hide behind fine-sounding words.”

ENDS

For further information:

John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650

Press Release dated: 9/11/10

Eurostar unveils £700m train deal, London City Airport Expansion Not Needed

Eurostar has unveiled an order for new trains worth more than £700m.

The Channel Tunnel rail firm, which runs high-speed services from London to Paris and Brussels, is buying 10 trains from German firm Siemens and overhauling its existing fleet.

France had been pressing for the new trains to be built by French firm Alstom.But Eurostar said the decision had been made in the best in interest of customers after a "rigorous" process.

The new Eurostar e320 trains would be able to carry more than 900 passengers and their luggage, and reach speeds of 320km per hour (200mph), the firm said.

The 28 existing Eurostar trains can carry up to 750 travellers at up to 300km/h.

Eurostar said the new fleet would be equipped with wi-fi and on-board services including real-time travel and destination information and interactive entertainment.

The firm's chief executive, Nicolas Petrovic, said the new trains and refurbished fleet would make Eurostar "the obvious choice for short-haul European travel".

Eurostar is set to lose its monopoly on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel, after the introduction of open access on international lines in Europe introduced in January this year.

German state-owned rail operator Deutsche Bahn is planning test trips of inter-city trains and is understood to want to run services from London to Cologne and Frankfurt.

From BBC London News HERE!

Campaign Update - Bulletin - East London Autumn Edition Now Available

You can now read the Fight The Flights Autumn, East London Edition, 'Campaign Update Bulletin' here.

Why not print one or more off and share them with your neighbours, or ask your local shopkeeper/health centre to put a few on their counter/noticeboard? We know there are still so many residents out there who are increasingly bothered by London City Airport aircraft noise, but that we simply haven't been able to reach and they are having difficulty finding accurate information and advice. London is a big place, and reaching everyone affected is an uphill struggle. But you can help us very simply by talking to, or giving just a couple of your neighbours the bulletin.

Help spread the word about Fight the Flights (a non party political residents community group) and what we are doing to stop expansion at London City Airport, but also perform a watchdog role and look for positive solutions to deal with the current noise and air pollution levels in East London.

Press Release - City Airport Expansion Oppostion Lines Up for Today's Parliamentary Adjournment Debate

PRESS RELEASE :- NO EMBARGO : 15th DECEMBER 2009.

SW-ESSEX FIGHT THE FLIGHTS (FTF)- LONDON CITY AIRPORT (LCA)

CITY AIRPORT EXPANSION OPPOSITION LINES UP
FOR TODAY'S PARLIAMENTARY ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

Redbridge and Waltham Forest were joined on Wednesday 9th December by neighbouring Tower Hamlets, becoming the latest London Borough Council to come out against the expansion of City Airport by unanimously agreeing a forthright resolution.

The decision comes just days after local MP's James Brokenshire (Hornchurch) and Lee Scott (Ilford North) both re-affirmed their opposition.

Mr. Brokenshire successfully obtained today's adjournment debate and tabled a series of Parliamentary Questions concerning the scandulously undemocratic decision of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), recently discovered to have re-directed LCA flight-paths over parts of Havering and Redbridge from 7th May 2009. An edict which will not be reviewed for a year.

Reacting to that news, FTF SW-Essex Coordinator and local resident, Steve Pullum said:
"The flights now come right over my house and i've never even been given the opportunity to influence the decision or comment. CAA have forced through the changes by dictat and local residents are suffering the noise and environmental consequencies". "I would urge local people and Havering Council to follow Redbridge's lead and respond to the Airport's Noise Review and also challenge the CAA". Mr Pullum continued: “They've ignored both the views of local people and the science of climate change. The fact is that we need to stop airport expansion if we’re to have any hope of reducing CO2 emissions in this country ”.

Late last year Newham Council gave City Airport permission to increase the number of flights using the airport by 50%. That decision, however, is being challenged in the courts by Judicial Review by local coalition campaign group, Fight the Flights.

ENDS

FOR FURTHER COMMENT PLEASE RING
07708 794665 (SW-Essex FTF)
OR 07964 300558 (FTF Press)

Notes for Editors:

1. The Newham Council approved, original planning application by London City Airport was to increase the number of flights from 76,000 flights to 120,000 p.a. is the subject of the Judicial Review.

2. The decision was made despite the fact that the initial application did not contain accurate data on noise going back nearly a decade, in breach of planning agreements.

3. LCA has now drafted its noise action plan in response to a directive published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). That directive requires airport operators to prepare draft noise action plans designed to manage noise issues arising from aircraft departing from and arriving at airports. 4. Upon conclusion of the public consultation, LCA will collate and consider all responses to the noise action plan. 5. Consultation responses can be submitted electronically by emailing Kellie.Heath@londoncityairport.com for information, or, by accessing http://www.londoncityairport.com/LandingPage.aspx?Page=noiseactionplan. Alternatively postal responses go to: Kellie Heath, London City Airport, City Aviation HouseRoyal Docks, London E16 2PB.

6. The consultation deadline is 15th January 2010.

7.Fight The Flights
Blogsite: http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/Website: www.fighttheflights.com

TONIGHT! FTF & HACAN Talk at Leyton & Wanstead Lib Dems THIS Friday

Fight the Flights with it's alliance partner HACAN will be attending a Leyton and Wanstead Lib Dem meeting to give a talk on the effects of London City Airport and other flight expansion over East London on:

Friday 2nd October, 7pm

Quaker Meeting Hall, Bush Road, E11

All Welcome
Nearest tube: Leytonstone

If you require any further information please contact the Lib Dems , or ourselves if it is campaign related.

London City Airport and the CAA were asked by the Lib Dems to attend the meeting, but sadly both declined this opportunity to talk to you, the residents who have to live with the decisions they make and the impact of their operations.