Showing posts with label LAANC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LAANC. Show all posts

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.

Wednesday, 17 October 2018

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.

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.

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

Cranford Alternation Planning Letter


Please follow the link below to view the

Cranford Alternation Planning Letter, 26/1/2016 

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.


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.

LAANC Response

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

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.

Monday, 27 October 2014

LONDON AIRSPACE CHANGES/PRECISION NAVIGATION – UPDATE

Precision navigation (PRNAV) is now fitted to all new aircraft and is precise up to heights of 4000ft, it is more fuel efficient, direct and more precise in the 3km wide take off swathes. This will enable an increase in take offs at some airports. Respite within the swathe will be varied with aircraft being directed to a more definitive  position within the swathe. This may well increase respite for some and be less for others.  
Precision Navigation
Trials of PRNAV prove increased departures are possible and with aircraft following a more precise line will allow more frequent take offs. There has been adverse response from previously non affected areas at both ends of Heathrow Airport. Teddington has been badly affected by the trials on easterlies and Ascot / Sunningdale / Bracknell / Englefield Green on westerlies, generating many complaints from residents not previously affected by aircraft noise. LAANC is trying to ascertain what is to be done following the trial before it is imposed on communities outside the 57db contour. Trials are being run by NATS, but PRNAV is being driven by the European aircraft control service.

DAVIES COMMISSION –UPDATE


The Davies Commission is to issue a Consultation shortly on the remaining options i.e. Gatwick 2nd runway and the two Heathrow third runway options.

An 8/10 week consultation is expected on the key areas identified by the Commission. The results of this consultation will go to the Commission Work Group but will not be published until after the General Election.

It is unlikely that the Commission will ask for additional surveys etc. i.e. questioning 57db 16 hour bench marks as it is now out of date, despite LAANC pressure for them to do so.