What has happened
What has Happened:
Since March of 2004 the National Air Traffic Service (NATS) has been able to route airliners across the whole of Suffolk at heights of about half that previously in operation. This means that many areas hitherto unaware of the sheer volume of aircraft using Stansted and Luton airports are now being affected by noise and pollution. The majority of this traffic is being generated by no frills airlines such as Ryan Air.
Lack of Consultation.
How has this come about?
Apparently the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which administers the use of UK airspace is not required to consult on changes to airspace use unless it is below 7,000ft. In the case of Suffolk consultation did take place with the local authorities for some lowering of heights to their present levels in 1999. This was given no publicity and the public were not made aware of the changes because aircraft were not able to make use of these lower flight levels until March 2004. This is when the height levels over Ipswich were almost halved enabling routing at lower levels. NO consultation was required, however there was an informal consultation by NATS with officers of Babergh District Council and the County Council early in 2003 at which the local authorities again failed to respond adequately or consult affected parish councils. It became clear that irrespective of what objections might have been raised that the CAA and NATS were going to do what they wanted, when they wished, regardless. Unfortunately Unlike planning, say for a road project there is no forum for people adversely affected byairspace changes to object. This means that where ever you live an aircraft motorway can appear One mile above your head!
Increasing Air Traffic. What will this Mean
You might think that at present the volume of aircraft is bearable especially as NATS seem to be spreading the load across a wide area. Until March 2004 Airliners were passing over the Dedham Vale at 3 minute intervals, one mile above their homes. Despite the strong lobbying to change the route nothing happened until the sheer weight of air traffic caused NATS to split the incoming traffic which had all passed through the Clacton entry point and route Stansted and Luton bound aircraft to enter UK airspace further North toward Ipswich. This resulted a spread of traffic over a larger area. So that's alright then? You would be wrong! The airline business plays a long game pre-preparing for expansion and that is just what we are going to get. At present both Stansted and Luton are under capacity. The Aviation White paper says that even without a second runway at Stansted the two airports carry 26 million passengers which will expand to 65 million and 480,000 flights by 2030. Add a second runway at Stansted and it means 76 million passengers and a huge increase in flights, most of which will cross Suffolk, estimates suggest a growth to 120 million passengers, double the population of this country, from these two airports alone.
Noise and Air Pollution:
As you might have experienced jets are noisy. It is a physical law that halving the distance to a noise source results not in a twice the loudness but four times the loudness. So the reduction in flight levels has made a major change to noise levels. Also unlike terrestrial noises there is no absorption from the environment because the direct path to you is unobstructed. It makes jet noise even worse. Disturbed sleep patterns are caused by noise, especially for children, resulting in cognitive effects such as problems with reading, attention span, memory function and stress related health problems. These effects have been substantiated by two separate scientific studies.
What about the fuel burnt? Well these gases pour out behind the aircraft like a crop sprayer. Carbon Dioxide is the principal gas, that will warm up your environment for you. Nitrogen Oxides react to form acid rain and toxic nitrates, they also play a major role in ground level production of ozone or photochemical smog. Sulphur oxides also produce acid rain at ground level, it can cause respiratory problems like asthma, as well as affecting plants and buildings. Volatile Organic Compounds are deposited by un-burnt fuel like benzene linked to adult leukaemia and finally a layer of soot falls gently down. That's a nice healthy environment for you and your children. Not much from one aircraft, but 480,000? Could you move anywhere in Suffolk to escape, the CAA response to a telephone enquiry by a complainant "If you don't want aircraft noise I wouldn't live in Suffolk."
Quality of Life.
If you have lived in Suffolk all your Life you will know the tranquility of life here. Many others over the years have moved here to experience that quality, composers, artists, poets and mostly ordinary people who are your neighbours and friends. It is peaceful outside the towns and despite the necessary but temporary sounds of agriculture you can enjoy the quiet sounds of nature. All that is coming to an end if the present changes go unchallenged. The proposed growth of Stansted will produce a constant background of rumbling jets like no motorway ever did with many able to enjoy the full symphonic scream of gas turbines at first hand. Try a visit to Snape.
The present changes and Stansted Expansion.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
The unlimited growth of air transport will blight all our lives. It is surely wrong for the minority of airline users, on pleasure trips, to blight the lives of tens of thousands of people with noise and pollution without enabling those effected a voice. The expansion of Stansted is not a forgone conclusion, in fact the Government has laid down stringent financial conditions that will have to be met by the operators before work commences. We must make such a noise of dissent and protest in numbers that will drown the jets themselves. There is already a "Stop Stansted Expansion" campaign. Join it. The strength is in numbers. Write to the Government and complain, your local MP likes to be re-elected, as do your Parish, District and County councillors what are they doing about it. Write to the local MEP's, the CAA. Challenge them to justify what they are doing. Your local councilor should be asked to raise the issue at council meetings. Newspapers and Broadcasters like to publicise local issues. Don't just write once, follow up with more letters, make your voice heard. Lets make a tidal wave of protest that will wash this blight from the sky.
Support the South Suffolk Air Transport Action Group
- Posted by ssatag on 01/11/2006.
