Unconfirmed report that the Consultation on night flights in the UK has been delayed to allow for the consideration of SONA night 2014.
Tuesday, 18 May 2021
Friday, 2 November 2018
LAANC Factsheet Date Correction
Following the last Council meeting the dates of the next LAANC meetings have been checked and are as follows:
Executive: 9th November 2018, 10:30 am
Council : 7th December 2018, 10.30 am
The dates on the fact sheet are incorrect and should be ignored.
Executive: 9th November 2018, 10:30 am
Council : 7th December 2018, 10.30 am
The dates on the fact sheet are incorrect and should be ignored.
Wednesday, 17 October 2018
New WHO noise guidelines for Europe released
10 October 2018
The revised WHO Environmental Noise
Guidelines for the European Region provide strong evidence that noise is one of
the top environmental hazards to both physical and mental health and
well-being.
Officially launched to countries and
stakeholders in Basel, Switzerland on 10 October 2018, the document identifies
levels at which noise has significant health impacts and recommends actions to
reduce exposure. For the first time, a comprehensive and rigorous
methodological framework was applied to develop the recommendations.
What is new
Compared to previous WHO guidelines
on noise, this version contains five significant developments:
· stronger evidence of the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of
environmental noise;
· inclusion of new noise sources, namely wind turbine noise and leisure
noise, in addition to noise from transportation (aircraft, rail and road
traffic);
· use of a standardized approach to assess the evidence;
· a systematic review of evidence, defining the relationship between noise
exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes;
· use of long-term average noise exposure indicators to better predict
adverse health outcomes.
Driving policy action to protect communities from health effects of
noise
Targeted at decision-makers and
technical experts, the new guidelines aim to support legislation and
policy-making at local, national and international level.
Although the guidelines focus on the
European Region and provide guidance consistent with the European Union’s
Environmental Noise Directive, they also have global relevance. The large body
of evidence underpinning the recommendations was derived not only from noise
effect studies in Europe but also from research in other parts of the world,
mainly America, Asia and Australia.
The guidelines also highlight data
and research gaps to be addressed in future studies.
Recommendations related to Aircraft Noise
For average noise exposure, the
Guideline Development Group (GDG)
strongly recommends reducing noise levels produced by aircraft to below
45 dB Lden, as aircraft noise above this level is associated with adverse
health effects.
For night noise exposure, the GDG
strongly recommends reducing noise levels produced by aircraft during night
time to below 40 dB Lnight, as aircraft noise above this level is
associated with adverse effects on sleep.
To reduce health
effects, the GDG strongly recommends that policy-makers implement suitable
measures to reduce noise exposure from aircraft in the population exposed to
levels above the guideline values for average and night noise exposure. For
specific interventions the GDG recommends implementing suitable changes in
infrastructure. Examples of infrastructure changes given include the opening and closing of runways and the redesign of flight paths.
High Court decision Allows Judicial review of the Airport's National Policy Statement
4th October 2018
The legal battle over the government's decision to approve the
construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport will proceed, after the High
Court granted permission for five legal challenges against expanding the
airport to proceed to full hearings.
Justice Holgate confirmed the cases lodged by five different
parties - including environmental campaigners and a group of Councils around
the airport will be heard over 10 days
in March 2019.
Critics argue Heathrow expansion is incompatible with the UK's
long-term climate targets and is incompatible with statutory carbon budgets, in
addition to leading to increased local noise and air pollution upon a growing
population.
Proponents of Heathrow Airport expansion, however, argue the
project is necessary for boosting jobs and growth, and that improvements in
aviation technology will make the new runway compatible with long term carbon
and air quality targets.
Many legal challenge supporters contend that immensely increased
activity related to 54% more flights will inevitably escalate surface transport
congestion, exacerbate the existing housing crisis and escalate the costs of
scarce business premises to totally uneconomic and unsustainable levels.
The five parties
challenging the UK government's decision this summer to grant permission for a
third Heathrow runway at the High Court are: a consortium including the local
authorities of Hillingdon, Hammersmith & Fulham, Richmond, Wandsworth and
Windsor & Maidenhead, Greenpeace, and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan; Heathrow
Hub Limited - promoters of a rival scheme to expand Heathrow; Friends of the
Earth; Plan B, an environmental campaign group; and Neil Spurrier, a Twickenham
resident.
Sunday, 12 August 2018
CAA Draft Airspace Modernisation Strategy Consultation Closes by 10 September 2018
The CAA is consulting on its Draft Airspace Modernisation Strategy.
Point 5 of the executive summary states "The strategy sets out the ends, ways and means of modernising airspace. The ends are derived from UK government and relevant international policy and the ways of achieving them include new airspace design, new operational concepts and new technologies. To establish the means of delivering modernised airspace, such as the resources needed, this strategy requires deployment plans be drawn up including, in the future, a macro-level roadmap to be drawn up detailing the interdependent. airspace changes that are deemed necessary and when."
The preamble to the consultation can be found on this link. Click Here
The strategy can be found on this link: Click Here
Responses are invited before 10th September 2018
Tuesday, 10 July 2018
Proposal for a Third Runway at Heathrow Approved by Parliament
On 25th June 2018, the UK Parliament voted to approve the
"Airports National Policy Statement: new runway capacity and
infrastructure at airports in the South East of England" as presented to
Parliament pursuant to Section 9(8) of the Planning Act 2008.
The document outlines Government policy relating to airport
expansion in the south east of England with a third runway at Heathrow being its favoured option.
Opponents of the project have six weeks from the 25th to
challenge the scheme in the High Court via judicial review.
It is up to Heathrow Airport Limited (or a third party),
to apply for a development consent order for the project to proceed, depending on the result of any court proceedings.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021 with the runway
opening in 2026.
The policy document can be found here
Further information on the planning process can be found here.
Saturday, 3 March 2018
LAANC Appreciation of Gerry Ceaser and temporary Administration arrangements
LAANC Appreciation of Gerry Ceaser, February 2018
It is with great regret and sadness that we inform Members
and others that LAANC Vice President Gerry Ceaser unexpectedly died over the
weekend of 24th / 25th February after a short illness. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to his wife Zandra who
shared the LAANC Administrator role with Gerry and before that had served LAANC
as its Secretary.
Gerry was truly Mr LAANC as he actively served in leading
roles guiding LAANC for over 20 years, many as its Chairman and thereafter as
its Co-Administrator. LAANC is deeply
indebted to Gerry and Zandra.
Gerry’s early years on LAANC coincided with his Leadership
of Spelthorne Borough Council, being its Mayor and honoured as a Freeman of
that Borough, which helped us to appreciate Spelthorne Council Offices as the
host location of our meetings. His
knowledge of aviation activity and perceptive mind will be sorely missed in our
meetings and others such as the Heathrow Community Noise Forum, Heathrow
Airport Consultative Committee and its Steering Group.
Colin Stanbury, the LAANC Director, has kindly offered to
handle Administrative matters and contacts on a temporary basis until new
arrangements are agreed. He can be contacted via info@laanc-heathrow.org.uk or on
07778 284309.
Monday, 27 February 2017
HoC Environmental Audit Committee Rubbishes Heathrow
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee report can be found here.
Friday, 17 February 2017
Recent Aviation Consultations
The Government has recently announced 3
key consultations each of which contain proposals which have potential impact on
all communities across London as well as those located west of the M25 and
Surrey. Each of the consultations makes reference to numerous supporting
documents and studies including the publication (in part only) of the SoNA 14 -
Survey of Noise Attitudes 2014.
The Consultations concern:
- Night
Flights from Heathrow
- Draft
National Aviation Policy Statement (NPS)
- Proposals for Airspace Modernisation
Full LAANC Advice Notes on these topics can be found on the LAANC Heathrow website here.
Tuesday, 1 November 2016
LAANC Notes re Meeting Changes
Please note that the Meetings of the Executive on 4th November and the Council on 9th December have both been cancelled and will be replaced by a Council Meeting at 10 am on Thursday 17th November at the same venue.
Tuesday, 21 June 2016
LAANC Response to CAA Consultation, CAP 1389
Please follow this link to view LAANC's detailed on-line response to the CAA Consultation on proposals for a revised airspace
change process, CAP 1389."The purpose of this consultation is for the CAA to learn your views on some changes we are considering making to our airspace change decision-making process. Our objective is to optimise our process to ensure that all stakeholders are adequately consulted as part of a transparent, proportionate process. The process should be impartial and evidence based, and should take proper account of the needs and interests of all affected stakeholders." CAA, March 2016
Wednesday, 3 February 2016
Assessing the Airport Commission report
Please follow the link below to view the "Report by Hillingdon, Richmond, Wandsworth, and Windsor and Maidenhead councils, members of the 2M Group, October 2015".
Assessing the work of the Airports Commission
Defra Noise Research Reports
Summarised below are links to a suite of noise research reports recently issued by Defra.
January 2016 Reports
1.
Review of SAHSU :
2.
Hypertension Review :
3.
Investigation into the potential for a UK-wide Support Infrastructure for Low
Frequency Noise Sufferers:
4.
Focussed Noise Monitoring Study 2013 (2 reports):
5.
Environmental Noise Valuation - the costs and benefits of remediation measures:
6.
Effects of EIA on Planning with regard to human health, flora, fauna and the
built environment:
7.
Documenting Production of Round 2 Noise Maps (2 reports):
8.
Comparison of the impact of using different input parameters between Round 1
and Round 2 noise mapping:
9.
Evidence and Usage of SOAEL, LOAEL, etc.:
10.
Possible Options for Identification of SOAEL and LOAEL:
December 2015 Reports
11.
Survey of Noise Attitudes (SoNA2013):
12.
Additional Analysis of the NNAS2012 Dataset:
Thursday, 2 July 2015
LAANC’s view on the Airport Commission report
In view of the Airport Commissions Recommendation
that Heathrow should have a third runway, the next Executive Meeting of
LAANC is being upgraded to a Full Council Meeting so as to enable as many
members and observers possible to attend and hear LAANC’s initial view of
the Report.
This Meeting will be held at 10.30am on 17th July
2015 at Spelthorne Council Offices, Knowle Green Staines. TW18 1XB
If you would like to attend as an Observer please advise us
on 01932 785841, time and venue as per the detail on our fact sheet page.
Thursday, 4 June 2015
Airports Commission: Air Quality Assessment
LAANC's Response
 |
| Local Assessment LHR Base Take Off Spatial Map |
In LAANC’s view the consultation has failed to clearly set
out the conclusions of its own air quality assessment within the current UK
planning policy framework. For example the assessment does not address the
potential policy conflicts of opting for either of the two Heathrow proposals.
The conflicts arise as the NPPF states that the planning system should perform
an environmental role to minimise pollution.
One of the twelve core planning principles notes that planning should
“contribute to reducing pollution”. Specifically in relation to air quality
impacts, the NPPF states that: “Planning policies should sustain compliance
with and contribute towards EU limit values or national objectives for
pollutants, taking into account the presence of Air Quality Management Areas
and the cumulative impacts on air quality from individual sites in local areas.
Planning decisions should ensure that any new development in Air Quality
Management Areas is consistent with the local air quality action plan”.
The Commission’s assessment shows that there is a significant risk that any expansion of Heathrow would have material negative impacts on local air quality. It is therefore difficult to see how either shortlisted Heathrow option can comply with current national planning policy guidance as neither option will contribute to pollution reduction or contribute towards meeting national or EU Air Quality Limit Values.
The Commission’s assessment shows that there is a significant risk that any expansion of Heathrow would have material negative impacts on local air quality. It is therefore difficult to see how either shortlisted Heathrow option can comply with current national planning policy guidance as neither option will contribute to pollution reduction or contribute towards meeting national or EU Air Quality Limit Values.
Wednesday, 4 February 2015
LAANC Response to Airports Commission consultation
We are pleased to refer you to our Airports Commission page to see the LAANC response to the Final Consultation Questions.
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Davies Commission Consultation
Laanc will be discussing their response to the recent Davies Commission on additional runways at Londons Heathrow Airport at their meeting on Friday 22nd January.
If you have any views please use the "contact us" button on our
web site www.laanc-heathrow.org.uk
If you have any views please use the "contact us" button on our
web site www.laanc-heathrow.org.uk
Friday, 9 January 2015
HOMES 'TURMOIL' IF HEATHROW EXPANDED
Creating up to 70,800 homes if Heathrow expansion plans go ahead would cause "absolute turmoil", a Windsor councillor has said.
 |
| The Airports Commission is considering the option of a third runway north-west of Heathrow, nearer to Windsor |
Malcolm Beer made his comments ahead of a Windsor council aviation forum later.
He said a third runway north-west of the airport could create the need to use greenbelt land for housing.
A Heathrow spokesman said: "There will be little or no need for additional house-building over and above current local authority plans."
'Commercial greed gone mad'
The housing concern comes after a recent report by the Airport Commission, which stated the Heathrow expansion would create between 47,400 and 112,400 jobs by 2030, which in turn would require an extra 29,800 to 70,800 homes to be created in the surrounding area, including Windsor, Slough and London boroughs.
Read the full article on the BBC News Berkshire site, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-30726088
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
AIRPORTS COMMISSION
 |
| Airports Commision Consultation Document |
The Airports Commission has just published its consultation on the three options it has shortlisted for increasing the UK’s long-term aviation capacity. The consultation is open until the 3rd of February and seeks
views on the three options for a new runway in the south east of England,
and on its assessments of these options. In particular, the Commission
wishes to:
- test the evidence base it has assembled
- understand stakeholders’ views as to the accuracy, relevance and breadth of the assessments it has undertaken
- seek views on the potential conclusions that might be drawn from them.
They
are also interested in evidence and ideas about improving the
short-listed options (e.g. through mitigation measures to address specific
impacts).
LAANC will be responding to the consultation after its Meeting on 23rd January 2015.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)