Sorry to be the pedant but ecomony? Really?

Other than that, all fair points.

So why move near an airport or its flight path if it bothers you so much?

Are you just another one of the many that has a me, me, me attitude to life?

Actually we've had east winds all week - so no landings over Kew anyway.

So why move near an airport or its flight path if it bothers you so much?

Many people have seen traffic double or treble since they bought their houses. Also the introduction of night flights by this government is what has resulted in 4.30am arrivals.

clivem

When did flights at Heathrow commence from 0430am?

VoiceofReason08
Flights have always come into Heathrow from around 4.30am as they fly from parts of the world that are in different time zones!! Please have some cop on!!

As for all the other silly comments about not moving into a flight path or near an airport. It's not so easy anymore as there are so many airports and runways all over London and more and more around the UK. Did you all forget that the UK has one of the busiest skies in the world.

These have been some of the best days that London East and West have had for years. If most of us had the choice we would prefer to have more days like the last few we've had than not.

Airport expansion at Heathrow, London City Airport, Stanstead, Southend, Lydd, Biggin Hill, Luton and ALL the others around the UK should be halted ASAP.

People need to realise the negative effectes that Aviation has in such a densely populated area that London is. The Health and Wellbeing as well as the environment are being eroded by BIG business looking for more profits over peoples health.

These last few days will go down as some of the best London has had in decades.

Long may it last!!!

Airport expansion is "GREED NOT NEED"

GeorgeatLondon

As for all the other silly comment

LOL

How is it a silly comment? If you don't like aircraft noise don't move near an airport.

You don't want traffic noise, don't move near a motorway.

If you don't want the smell of manure, don't move to the countryside.

Its not rocket science now is it?

VoiceofReason

The laws of physics play a big part in life. Jet noise is known to create more noise nuisance than most other noise. London has a very busy sky. People cannot be controlled by one business. Aviation controls and affects many people. Not moving into an area that is affected by Jet noise is more difficult with the uncontrolled increase of aviation in and around London. People should be able to have a choice, but thats been taken away by the current government and aviation.

That's not rocket science is it.

VoiceofReason08

I don't like volcanoes and deliberately purchased a house well away from the nearest one of these nasty, smelly, noisy and dusty things. Looks like they have disrupted my life anyway.

SirEdwardBicycle

16 Apr 2010, 5:07PM

Sorry to be the pedant but ecomony? Really?

Other than that, all fair points.

all apart from "my partner and I" of course... (my partner and me)

other than that, all fair points.

If enough residents do not want the noise of Heathrow they simply need to band together and take direct action.

I hope the current "peace and tranquilty" will galvanise people to take direct action to ensure they live in an environment free of noise pollution.

We get the press we deserve, we get the politicians we deserve, and we get the noise we deserve.

*
dolphinx

If enough residents do not want the noise of Heathrow they simply need to band together and take direct action.

Get down to army surplus. 3.7 inch AA gun. Can't miss at those heights

A few questions!

Who approved this article? it's drivel! Did the writer get paid for it?

Is the issue of flight noise over Heathrow given far too much attention than other more pressing issues in the capital given that it effects the beautiful neighbourhoods of Barnes, Mortlake, Richmond, Kew, Chiswick those lovely little bits of the countryside placed in the middle of a major international capital city with a chronic housing shortage?

These neighbourhoods where houses are worth 7 figure sums and are inhabited by NIMBIES par excellence.

Why don't you take your little idyllic piece of the countryside in the middle of a busy major city and move it to the actual countryside? This argument about flight noise and the environment is just NIMBY opportunism, you're complaints and campaigns pre-date the environmental arguments by decades. Is there a NIMBY blog?

Furthermore I've lived in a flight path (Hounslow) and it never bothered me one bit, yes I'd hear the planes start at 0530 and just roll over and go back to sleep, earplugs help also.

People residing in the South East over the decades have benefited disproportionately from being in an extremely capital-centric economy so you'll have to take the rough (plane noise) with the smooth (property values & job opportunities).

I also don't believe that Lady Jenny Tonge likes doing the ironing, nobody likes doing the ironing, fact.

Let's imagine that she has a housekeeper from Africa/Eastern Europe/Latin America to provide such a service. This housekeeper may well live locally, however has never given the flight noise a second thought, other things like the extortionate price of rent for his or her room in a sub-standard flat conversion (the landlord probably campaigns against the noise from his nearby Barnes mansion) with paper thin walls and anti-social neighbours that play their music all hours of the night, needless to say the noise of the flights (and the birds singing) is probably deafened by the traffic from the busy main road such a property looks on to.

I was going to vote Lib Dems, after reading this article I'm going to think again.

MattyRecife

Your comments are even bigger drivel than the article!! Your comments make me and I'm sure more people more determined to make sure people know about the negative effects Aviation has on our lives.

It would be better if people with your attitude move from the cities so normal people can enjoy their environment.

simon3862 is right to point out that howling error.

I'm also a little concerned about the following sentence, which appears in that same first line, aren't you? "Neither of us have work on Friday mornings".

I smell foul play. Someone who claims to delight in birdsong and the Shipping Forecast surely cannot be responsible for such a first line.

Whatever next - the old apo'strophe wherever there(')s an 's' but not when it(')s actually needed?

Perhaps it's more difficult to concentrate without the usual background noise?

It reminds me of those people who move from the city to the country and complaining about the cockerels crowing and waking them up early, then getting a court injunction to have the cockerels killed so they can sleep a little later. I live near St David's by the way and this really has happened. Of course living here means I don't have a large paycheck every month. So stop moaning, you are free to make the choice between a large salary job and putting up with some inconvenience or moving to Pembrokeshire and living on a low wage but having a quiet and wonderful place to live.

Great sunset last night though.

@GeorgeatLondon
Your comments are even bigger drivel than the article!!

So you admit the article is drivel

My comments may also be perceived as such, however the questions are still unanswered!

I'm a native of southeast England (though from north of London) but I've lived overseas all my adult life, so I can't fairly comment on housing/economy issues.
However, when visiting 'home' a few years ago, I went to Kew for the first time ever, to see the world-renowned botanical gardens I've heard about all my life. The noise was truly awful; instead of a peaceful, tranquil afternoon garden experience, I heard the roaring, deafening noise of a jet taking off EVERY TWO MINUTES. I had no idea that Heathrow was so over-used until then. I was really sad that such magnificent gardens can't be appreciated as they should be. I hope some lucky people are enjoying them while the flights are halted.
How can anybody stand to live near Heathrow by choice?

Elsewhere on CIF we have articles bemoaning the lack of pre-prepared pineapple chunks from Ghana.

When the volcanic activity dies down it would be nice if someone decided to fly the 90,000 tonnes of exotic and out-of-season fruit and veg into another airport if we can still afford to buy it.

I understand that we have several military airfields close to the motorway network, surely it cannot be that all the 90,000 tonnes is consumed in West London.

I should also say, I agree with any plan to reduce noise and pollution. At the same time I've often wished for a proper airport nearer here as it takes longer for me to get to Heathrow than it does to get from Heathrow to New York, flying over my house on the way. I know, I'm a hypocrite, what can I say and the bloody chickens need feeding again. Eggs for breakfast!

luddite42

"How can anybody stand to live near Heathrow by choice?"

That is an excellent question and I only regret that I am not able to answer it for you. Even more bizarre are those who choose to move there and complain about the noise afterwards. I have a theory for those people though. Maybe they are Catholic integrists who like to wear their human guilt and suffering like a medal.

"How can anybody stand to live near Heathrow by choice?"

Well how about because you were born there? not much choice involved. And why should you be forced to move away?

I've lived all over west London and there aren't many areas where you won't get bugged by constant plane noise.

And MattyRecife, if you've lived in Hounslow you'll know it isn't just the posh bits like Barnes and Kew that are affected.

the first time I moved away from London, after two weeks I suddenly had the odd feeling that there was something strange. Then I twigged, I'd just seen a plane in the sky, and it made me realise that they weren't going over ever two minutes. In the old days it used to bugger up the telly as well every time one went over.

I was born in south london, I've lived across the country and abroad and yet now find myself in Kew.
I love it.
I'm far from wealthy, I rent my house, however I am a Londoner and want to live near my friends and family.
Kew has some of the best primary schools in London.
At least ones that you don't have to pay for.
I have two children soon to attend primary school.

So in answer to the people who ask why do I live on a flight path?
Because I want to live near my friends and family, because I want my kids to go to a good school. Because Kew is a fantastic place to live. It's just a shame about the aeroplanes.

I think people who think this is a petty moan obviously don't appreciate what it is like living on a flight path to a busy airport, or indeed how busy Heathrow is now.

I accept that it is my decision to live here, and I could move. The flight path is a compromise I am prepared to make to live here. But please don't berate those of us who can celebrate the fact that for a short while we don't have to live with that compromise.

I also don't think it's such a bad thing if we were to get used to eating foods in season again rather than flying them in from every corner of the globe just so we can have strawberries all year round.

MWinMilan

"Because Kew is a fantastic place to live. It's just a shame about the aeroplanes."

Despite my tongue-in-cheek but nothing-meant-by-it jibe earlier I do agree with you. Kew is in fact a rather charming place. I had a friend who lived there and I got to know it and its pubs rather well. As you say though, the planes are really a nuisance.

Re night flights quota at Heathrow. A quota exists to allow a small amount of flights to arrive between 11:30pm and 6am, typically 16 a night on average. That average must work out over a year (to allow for temp emergency situations such as the current one when a lot of planes need to land in a hurry).

A good explanation is available on the author's organisation's website (I'm surprised she didn't cite it in her article):- http://www.hacan.org.uk/resources/reports/hacan.night_flight_booklet.pdf

I don't know why people who live near Heathrow complain at such length about the noise pollution. If you don't like it, move. There are plenty of people who would like to have your house and live nice and close and be able to quickly get to and from the airport.

Before anyone suggests I haven't got a clue, I live in Erdington in Birmingham on the final approach to the local airport. Birmingham airport's runway is less than 5 miles away as the crow flies, everyone apart from Ryanair puts down their landing carriage as they fly past my house. (Ryanair leave it to the very last minute).

Please mull over this. Heathrow never had planning permission, and terminal ONE only opened in 1960 (correct me if I am wrong in my figure by more than 2 years). Its growth has been exponential. I have lived for 40 years on the West London flight path. Both 'posh' and not so posh, Hounslow, Kew, Feltham and Barnes and it's my home turf. The noise and (never mentioned) air pollution, has been imposed on residents, without consultation and with no health warning. Everybody is fully aware of the economic benefit to the the whole area, no question about this. It is like being told the next generation of atomic power station is to be built down the road. Jobs, for sure, and we all use the product. But I ask those who brag "if you dont want the ....dont live by the" ...what would you be saying if plans were announced to build that power station (or airport) on your manor. Would you just move? I very much doubt it.
The noise and air pollution is appalling. No if or but about it It is fact.
West London is my home. I never asked for Terminal 5 or 4, or a third runway, or night flights, or Jumbos from the Far East laden with prawn crackers spewing aviation fuel over my head landing at 4.30 am.
Would you?

Do you know I live in Banbury, Oxfordshire and you would think this was miles off the flightpaths that make so much noise, but I did wake up and comment to my wife yesterday how loud the birds were singing. And again this morning how qiet it is.

And the sky is blue, no con-trails to block out the glorious sunshine...

Thanks you volcano for restoring peace and quiet. No where can I get my fresh veg?

doge, you don't need aircraft to get fresh veg. How about looking a little closer to home? Google maps suggests you have a few farm shops in your area. How about checking them out? Or have you looked for a local veg box scheme? Don't bother with supermarket veg, go local!

The Bollin Valley last night, round Manchester Airport, was fantastic. New moon, Venus as the evening star, blood red sunset - and no planes. You could hear a bat fart in the woods. Brilliant - and unique.

picture

I agree, viscerally, with Jenny's article. I have lived under the Heathrow flightpath for almost half a century, since I was 3 years old. I remember the test flights of the Jumbo jet and Concorde. More recently I recall Concorde's last flights.

What I have never experienced, at home, is the utter peace and tranquility of these flightless days and nights. We have had the windows open in the mornings to wake to the preternatural birdsong - something that has never been compatible with sleep, in this place, during my lifetime.

This short sample of blissful peace has made clear, like no other experience could, how detrimental the impact of aviation is on the Quality of Life of so many millions of people living around the world's airport and beneath their flightpaths. This taste of beauty is an eerie experience and I suspect it will prompt many to reconsider their prioirities in life.

archipet.

The 747 test flights were conducted in Washington State.

This taste of beauty is an eerie experience and I suspect it will prompt many to reconsider their prioirities in life.

People love to travel and have holidays. The UK is a complete dump for vacations. Can't see people giving up their flying.

Enjoy your "peace" while it lasts. Things will hopefully be back to normal for the rest of us soon enough.

VoiceofReason08

It's exactly why people don't holiday in the UK. With people like this who make comments like VoiceofReason08. If we got rid of people like this maybe the country could move forward in the right way more than being held to ransom by BIG business and poor souls like VoiceofReason08.

Enjoy the peace while it lasts everyone it's been the best few days I've has in many a year. Hope we get more over time.

GeorgeatLondon

It's exactly why people don't holiday in the UK. With people like this who make comments like VoiceofReason08. If we got rid of people like this maybe the country could move forward in the right way more than being held to ransom by BIG business and poor souls like VoiceofReason08.

Enjoy the peace while it lasts everyone it's been the best few days I've has in many a year. Hope we get more over time.

What an absolute gem of a response. I am such a poor lost soul by enjoying going abroad for flights.

Yes, I can see it now. My moving abroad would boost British tourism no end.

Classic!!!!!

VoiceofReason08

"What an absolute gem of a response. I am such a poor lost soul by enjoying going abroad for flights.

Yes, I can see it now. My moving abroad would boost British tourism no end.

Classic!!!!!"

The mans got it!

Give him a round of applause!!

Took him long enough

There is always one .....

Whilst I dont disagree with your points . I am sick fed up of hearing "oh its so nice to have peaceful skies " . Yeah well I wonder how much people would appreciate peaceful skies if their loved ones were at the other side of the world and they had no idea when they would be back and when they would seeing them again ... Maybe then this silence would not be so welcome and you would realise that everything has a price

So for the moment , give it a rest .... have some sensitivity and look at homes in the lake district ... No runways there !

GeorgeatLondon

Good rational argument.