On Saturday 27th April thousands turned out for a major rally held in West London against Heathrow expansion. The cross-party rally, organized by Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith, heard speeches from 15 politicians including the London Mayor and two cabinet ministers Justine Greening and Ed Davey.

Boris Johnson called expansion ‘mad’. Watch the video: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/uk-politics-video/article10022607.ece#ooid=BnaGU4YjoP1vaVNruXBZZ7vdb5BwJjoP

Read the HACAN blog on why expansion would be politically toxic: http://hacan.org.uk/blog/

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson and former Transport Secretary Justine Greening will head the list of speakers at a mega rally against Heathrow expansion organised by Zac Goldsmith MP on 27^th April. 

It will take place from 9.30-10.30am at Barn Elms Playing Fields, Queen Elizabeth Walk, London SW13.  The rally will also feature MPs from all the political parties as well as council leaders.  There will be a series of short speeches before Boris casts the first 'vote' in the referendum Richmond Council is holding on the question of Heathrow Expansion. 

The Government is consulting on a new night flights regime at Heathrow, Stansted and Gatwick to replace the current agreement with the airlines which runs out in October 2014. 

It is the first part of a two-part consultation.  The second part of the consultation will take place this Autumn.  It will have detailed proposals.  This first part is largely a technical consultation.  It doesn’t express any view on whether night flights should be banned.

If you want to respond to the consultation, you will find it at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/66837/consultation-document.pdf

It is very technical so you may find this HACAN briefing helpful: http://www.hacan.org.uk/resources/briefings/night.flights.consultation.bullet.points.pdf

The deadline for responses in 22^nd April.  Email them to night.noise@dft.gsi.gov.uk  or  send them to Night noise consultation,  Department for Transport,  Great Minster House (1/26),  33 Horseferry Road,  London SW1P 4DR

Or you simply may want to email Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, direct and let him know just how much you value your sleep: patrick.mcloughlin@dft.gsi.gov.uk

The Government released its aviation strategy on Friday 22^nd March.  Our sister organisation HACAN, representing residents under the Heathrow flight paths, described it as ‘disappointing’. 

HACAN chair John Stewart said, “The aviation strategy is very disappointing.  It will permit growth without any clear targets to limit its noise and climate change impacts. Without such targets there is no guarantee that people or the planet will be protected.”

The strategy sets out overall Government policy on aviation – https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/153776/aviation-policy-framework.pdf  It replaces the 2013 Air Transport White Paper published by the previous Labour Government.  The new policy will provide the framework for the Airports Commission which the Government set up last year under Sir Howard Davies.  That  has been asked to make recommendations about how much extra airport capacity may be needed in the coming decades so that the UK can remain well connected to the rest of the world – https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commission

One of the main objectives of the new strategy will be “to ensure that the UK’s air links continue to make it one of the best connected countries in the world” so that “the UK can compete successfully for economic growth opportunities.”   The Government also stresses that it wants to “ensure that the aviation sector makes a significant and cost-effective contribution towards reducing global emissions” and that the number of people significantly affected by aircraft noise is limited and where possible reduced.  It does not, though, set noise or climate change targets. 

City Airport has plans to build new infrastructure to cater for the bigger aircraft it expects will be using the airport in years to come.  It wants to extend the terminal and build bigger parking bays for the aircraft.  It is not seeking permission to for an increase in the number of planes permitted to use the aircraft.  More details about the proposals and consultation is available at www.londoncityairport.com/cadp   The Airport is also holding a series of exhibitions:                 

•        Monday 8 April 1500 to 1900 – Trust Thamesmead, Thamesmead Greenwich

•           Wednesday 10 April 1600 to 2000 – Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre, North Woolwich, Newham

•           Thursday 11 April 1500 to 1900 – Chrisp Street Ideas Store, Poplar Tower Hamlets

•           Friday 12 April 1400 to 1800 – Britannia Village Hall, West Silvertown Newham

•           Saturday 13 April 1000 to 1400 – Woolwich Common Community Centre, Woolwich Greenwich

Following the consultation the airports expects to submit a formal application to Newham Council, the planning authority, in early Summer.

HACAN East works with Heathrow Airport on night ‘no fly’ zone

HACAN East has worked with Heathrow Airport (as BAA is now known), British Airways and Air Traffic Control to trial ‘no fly’ zones at night to give people in East London a break from the Heathrow planes until just before 6am.  Every second week residents in areas like Beckton, the Royal Docks and parts of Tower Hamlets will get no planes until almoast 6am.  Plane numbers will be cut in other areas of East London as well.

For more details of the trials: http://www.heathrowairport.com/noise/noise-in-your-area/early-morning-trial 

You can also meet Heathrow Airport represebntatives to talk about the trial at a Public Meeting on 

on Wednesday 27^th February from 7.30pm – 9pm at

Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre

Albert Road
North Woolwich
E16 2JB

About 5 mins walk from King George V DLR Station or by 473 or 474 bus.  Also free car parking.

For a trial period 'no fly' zones will be introduced at night to give people in areas of East and SE London a break from the noise of Heathrow aircraft.  Every second week people living in the areas will get no planes until nearly 6am.  The trial will last 5 months.

The trial is the result of HACAN East working with Heathrow Airport (as BAA is now known), British Airways and National Air Traffic Control. 

For more details and to reach maps: www.heathrowairport.com/noise