London Evening Standard/London
Two million more people will have their lives blighted by aircraft noise if Heathrow is allowed to expand to a four-runway airport, it was claimed yesterday.
Huge swathes of west, central and south London risk being affected by a bigger Heathrow as well as north Surrey, east Berkshire and south Buckinghamshire, said a group representing 24 councils.
It says that the “quiet enjoyment” of some of the most treasured green spaces in London, including royal parks, would be spoiled by the noise.
Mayor Boris Johnson said: “These figures reveal the true horror of Heathrow expansion. We should be looking to cut these numbers, not increase them, which is why we need a new airport to support the country’s growth without making life miserable for millions.”
The alarming forecast was issued by the 2M Group, which includes 24 local councils including 19 in London. It comes days after it emerged that Heathrow chiefs are examining options for four runways and marks a dramatic escalation in the battle over Heathrow’s future.
Hitting back, Heathrow accused the 2M Group of “scaremongering” and denied that a bigger airport would create noise disturbance on the scale claimed.
But the row is set to become a general election issue for London despite David Cameron delaying a final decision on airport expansion until after May 2015.
The 2M Group today published a series of noise contour maps of how airport expansion could affect the capital and surrounding counties.
The campaign alliance claimed the homes of 3mn people — rather than 1mn now — face being threatened by aircraft noise if Heathrow gets two more runways. Its prediction of a four-runway Heathrow shows:
The arrival flightpath for a third runway, north of the existing landing strips, is expected to create significant noise in parts of Mayfair, Belgravia, Sloane Square, South Kensington, Earl’s Court, West Kensington, Hammersmith, Chiswick and Brent.
Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens are set to be directly affected by planes coming in to land.
The arrival flightpath for a fourth runway, to the south at the airport, is predicted to have an impact on parts of Streatham, Balham, Tooting, Wandsworth Common, Earlsfield, Southfields, Putney Heath, Roehampton, Richmond Park, Richmond town centre, Isleworth, Hounslow Heath and Bedfont.
Clapham Common, Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common and Richmond Park would also suffer aircraft noise disturbance.
Ravi Govindia, leader of Wandsworth council and 2M Group spokesman, said: “A four-runway Heathrow could blight the lives of 3mn people and spoil the quiet enjoyment of huge parts of our city. The price is far too high and the benefits far from certain.”
Heathrow bosses recently stepped up their campaign for a third runway by arguing that forecast for flights may have been over-estimated so a fourth runway may not be needed.
They have also increased their lobbying of MPs. But their submission to the Davies Commission into Britain’s airport needs may include options for a four-runway solution. They could be for four-runways to the west of the airport or extending the two existing runways to, in effect, make four — proposals which would have different noise contours that those drawn up by the 2M Group.