In a recently published noise action plan BAA (British Airports Authority) have admitted, for the first time, that over 700,000 people are actually affected by noise from Heathrow airport. This figure is more than double the number that was previously published.

BAA have launched a 16 week consultation period to gather feedback from people affected by aircraft noise from around Heathrow airport. In their new action plan BAA have acknowledged that over 700,000 people are actually affected by aircraft noise from Heathrow air traffic. Campaigners have criticised the EU requirements for member states to draw up noise action plans as they say the requirements don’t go far enough as they don’t contain plans to reduce noise from various airports.

BAA is contacting residents in the areas surrounding Heathrow airport and the outlying Heathrow parking facilities, to encourage them to submit their views by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire focusses specifically upon noise from air traffic and doesn’t ask any questions related to airport expansion or the land required to meet increased demand for airport parking space. Residents have been told that they can also attend one of the three public sessions that will be held at the airport to discuss the noise issues. BAA have said that the consultation on noise is not linked to the controversial proposed plans to expand the airport. The enquiry, which will run until October 2009, will present a draft Noise Action plan to the Transport Secretary.

The campaign grounp Hacan Clearskies, dedicated to representing those who suffer due to aircraft noise, have said that ‘At long last BAA has been forced to creep into the real world and admit many more than 300,000 people are affected by aircraft noise. But even this is an underestimate. The World Health Organisation estimates more than a million people are affected.’

Previouss BAA figures estimated that 258,500 people were affected by high noise levels but this was derived by averaging noise levels over a 16 hour day. The new EU requirements result in far more accurage measurements of noise pollution by averaging readings over a full 24 hour period.

Hacan have pointed out that the location of Heathrow airport was never planned. It is located where it is due to an historical accident and nobody was able to predict how big it was to become. Most of the runaways at Heathrow are directed over London, due to the prevailing wind, and with the wind is from the East aircraft must take off over heavily populated areas raising significant safety concerns.

As the airport has grown, air traffic has increased and ever more Heathrow Hotels have been built to meet the demands of travellers. Noise is just one of the major concerns of local residents who have had to tolerate increased levels of air pollution and huge rise in the volume of traffic on the roads surrounding the busy airport. Although BAA have acknnowledged that over 700,000 people are affected by Heathrow aircraft noise it is anticipated that the true figure is in excess of one million.