Heathrow Noise Action Plan Consultation Launched

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Chance to give your views to BAA on how they intend to manage aircraft noise

Heathrow Airport is inviting community members to give their feedback over the next 16 weeks on details of how it intends to manage aircraft noise impacts over the five years 2010 – 2015.

BAA is required to publish a Noise Action Plan under EU law and believes they have shown " commitment to manage the effects of aircraft noise from Heathrow’s operations".

Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer, Mike Brown said, “We have a good track record in noise management at Heathrow. For example, we introduced a voluntary agreement with airlines in the 1990s to stop the scheduling of the noisiest types of aircraft at night, which was adopted and formalised by the Government. We also offer lower landing charges for airlines that use their quietest aircraft at Heathrow. Nevertheless, there is still more to do, and this document shows how BAA will engage with communities affected by aircraft noise, minimise noise impacts, influence planning policy and encourage airlines to use their quietest fleets.”

A 16-week public consultation was launched on 15 June 2009 and ends on 5 October 2009. During this time BAA wants to hear from the communities most affected by noise to understand their concerns and priorities.

Following this, BAA will consider the feedback received and will then submit a draft noise action plan to the Secretary of State for Transport by 30 November 2009. If approved, this will then be passed to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which is responsible for confirming their official adoption of the plan. BAA hopes to publish a final noise action plan early in 2010.

For people wishing to take part in the consultation, copies of the action plan and questionnaire for feedback are available online at www.heathrowairport.com/noise or by calling the Heathrow community relations team on 020 8745 5791.

Three public sessions will also take place at the Heathrow Academy on the following dates:

Monday 6 July 11:00-14:00
Monday 3 August 14:00-17:00
Weds 2 September 17:00-20:00

The consultation's launch came just hours before reports that taxpayers could end up 'footing the bill' for the controversial expansion of the airport.

According to the Press Association, taxpayers may end up subsidising the £9 billion third runway at Heathrow because of the "precarious" finances of the airport's operator, BAA.

Labour MP John McDonnell highlighted reports that BAA had urged the Government to revise plans that would give ministers powers over its airports if it went bust.

Mr McDonnell, whose constituency includes Heathrow, said this would mean the Government footing much of the bill for the controversial expansion.

June 22, 2009