Steve Fenton
Jun 11, 03, 6:38 am
Picked this up from Sky News
CPRE: No-one safe from jets
PLANES THREAT TO COUNTRY
The tranquillity of large parts of the countryside could be shattered forever if major airport expansion plans are allowed, campaigners are warning.
The Council for the Protection of Rural England says more than 770 square miles of countryside and 600.000 people will be affected by the noise.
In a new report called "Flying to Distraction" it calls on the Government to end subsidies for airlines and crack down on noise polluters.
The report says:
:: 603,000 people - twice the population of Coventry - would be "seriously affected" by noise by 2030;
:: Three new holding "stacks" over rural areas would be needed, probably near Chelmsford, Ashford and in the Midlands;
:: There would be more planes overhead and a significant increase in the frequency of flights, with some flight paths seeing more than 60 planes an hour;
:: Aircraft noise could reach new areas;
:: A new flight path along the east coast of England might be needed which could mean planes disrupting the peace of North Yorkshire Moors National Park;
Paul Hamblin, the CPRE head of transport policy, said: "Our research shows that fewer and fewer areas will be immune from the effects of noise.
"Rather than runaway runways and noise filled skies, the Government should put demand management policies at the heart of its Air Transport White Paper."
The Government's consultation exercise into air transport capacity closes on June 30 and the CPRE is encouraging people to send their comments to the Department of Transport and to their local MP.
An Air Transport White Paper is promised by the Government for the end of the year.
Last Updated: 08:58 UK, Wednesday June 11, 2003
CPRE: No-one safe from jets
PLANES THREAT TO COUNTRY
The tranquillity of large parts of the countryside could be shattered forever if major airport expansion plans are allowed, campaigners are warning.
The Council for the Protection of Rural England says more than 770 square miles of countryside and 600.000 people will be affected by the noise.
In a new report called "Flying to Distraction" it calls on the Government to end subsidies for airlines and crack down on noise polluters.
The report says:
:: 603,000 people - twice the population of Coventry - would be "seriously affected" by noise by 2030;
:: Three new holding "stacks" over rural areas would be needed, probably near Chelmsford, Ashford and in the Midlands;
:: There would be more planes overhead and a significant increase in the frequency of flights, with some flight paths seeing more than 60 planes an hour;
:: Aircraft noise could reach new areas;
:: A new flight path along the east coast of England might be needed which could mean planes disrupting the peace of North Yorkshire Moors National Park;
Paul Hamblin, the CPRE head of transport policy, said: "Our research shows that fewer and fewer areas will be immune from the effects of noise.
"Rather than runaway runways and noise filled skies, the Government should put demand management policies at the heart of its Air Transport White Paper."
The Government's consultation exercise into air transport capacity closes on June 30 and the CPRE is encouraging people to send their comments to the Department of Transport and to their local MP.
An Air Transport White Paper is promised by the Government for the end of the year.
Last Updated: 08:58 UK, Wednesday June 11, 2003