Report on Heathrow Airport Noise to be Published

Approximately 258,000 people live in Heathrow Airport's 57 decibel aircraft noise area Protestors against the expansion of London Heathrow Airport are celebrating after UK government ministers agreed to issue a key report highlighting how the effects of aircraft noise are more widespread than historically acknowledged.

Previously, Jim Fitzpatrick, the UK Transport Minister, had stated that a consultation in respect of Heathrow's future growth could proceed prior to the report - titled 'Attitudes to Noise from Aviation Sources in England' - being published. Now, in light of a meeting between Mr Fitzpatrick and the 2M group, this decision has been reversed and the report will indeed see publication. Simultaneously, the transport minister affirmed that the consultation would be put back by a month.

2M is an assimilated group involving representatives from the councils in areas surrounding Heathrow. The name itself refers to the number of residents within these areas - two million of them.

The leader of one of these councils, Wandsworth's Edward Lister, described the announcement as "...a victory for 2M and the local MPs." He added: "Now we need to make sure that the findings are not dismissed but are used to reassess the impact of further expansion on people's lives."

Report Suggests Aircraft Noise Annoyance Level Amended to 50 Decibels

Current government data places the noise level at which aircraft noise begins to become noticeably annoying at 57 decibels. The new report, crucially, revises this to what it considers a more accurate 50 decibel measure.

Presently, approximately 258,000 people reside in the area where 57 decibels of Heathrow Airport noise can be observed. Were the 50 decibel gauge to be put into effect, the area affected would increase ten times - taking in locations including Battersea and Clapham Common.

The consultation is seeking to increase Heathrow's current passenger capacity through the construction of a third runway and permitting arriving/departing flights to utilise both the present runways (a process known as mixed mode/ alternation).

If runway alternation was terminated, and a third runway put in place, Heathrow's annual flights could reach 800,000, say campaigners. This is comparable, they add, to a brand new airport of London Gatwick's size.

Source - Airport International's London Reporter