Just weeks left to stop major increase in aircraft noise over Wandsworth

Council leader Ravi Govindia is urging residents to help stop a series of new Heathrow flight paths being created over Wandsworth and other parts of London.

The UK Airports Commission’s public consultation on plans to vastly expand the airport and increase the number of planes flying over the borough will close on February 3.

The proposals include creating new Heathrow arrival routes which would cut across Wandsworth and expose more local communities to the stress and misery of aircraft noise.

There are two different plans for expanding Heathrow included in the consultation – both of which involve increasing the number of annual flights by 200,000.

The consultation also asks for views on an alternative plan to expand Gatwick. This rival proposal would not create any extra flights over densely populated areas like Wandsworth but would help to create new jobs and homes in Battersea which has a 25 minute rail link to the airport from Clapham Junction.

After next year’s general election the Airports Commission will recommend expanding either Heathrow or Gatwick to the new Government.

Cllr Govindia said: “Responding to this consultation could save our local community from these very serious threats. The quiet enjoyment of our homes, parks and gardens is hanging in the balance and I appeal to everyone who lives Wandsworth to take the time to register their views before it is too late.

He continued: “If Heathrow is selected there will be a vast increase in the number of planes flying low over Wandsworth every day. There are proposals to create new flightpaths which would cut across parts of our borough which have never been affected before. Places like Wandsworth Common, Northcote Road, Tooting Common and Southfields could be directly below the path of incoming jets.

“Those already under the flightpaths in Battersea, Wandsworth Town, Putney and Roehampton also face an increase in overhead planes and today’s limited noise respite protection could be diminished.

“If Gatwick is selected our borough will not face any additional aircraft noise but it will see new investment in the rail network and a major boost for Clapham Junction’s economy. There is cross-party support for Gatwick expansion on the council and I hope local residents back this project in their responses.”

Wandsworth Council is a member of the cross-party 2M Group of councils which work together to oppose changes at Heathrow which would have negative impacts on their communities. The 2M Group is preparing a technical response to the consultation which will be submitted before the deadline on Feb3 and published on the council’s website.

How to respond
A summary of the council’s views on the consultation is available online which residents can consider in forming their own response. You can also read the full report on the consultation on the council’s website.

Email your response to airports.consultation@systra.com or send your views by post to:
Freepost RTKX-USUC-CXAS
Airports Commission Consultation
PO Box 1492
Woking
GU22 2QR

January 16, 2015