PRESS RELEASE
11/7/2023 for immediate use
LONDON CITY EXPANSION PLANS REJECTED
London City Airport has been refused permission to expand. Newham Council, the planning authority, turned down the airport's planning application yesterday. Councillors on the Strategic Development Committee voted unanimously to reject it.
London City had sought permission to increase annual passenger numbers from 6.5 million to 9 million, operate more early morning flights, and fly on Saturday afternoon. Currently no flights are permitted between 12.30pm on Satruday and 12.30pm Sunday in order to give residents a break from the noise. This extra noise at weekends was the main reason the council gave for refusing the application.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents impacted by the airport, welcomed the decision: "People value the weekend break from the noise. It was brought in because people live so close to the airport. Newham Council was right to reject the proposal to eat into it."
It is uncertain what the airport will do now. If could appeal to the Government to 'call in' the proposal. If the Government agreed to do so, there would be a Public Inquiry.
ENDS
For more information:
John Stewart on 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
19/12/22 for immediate use
LONDON CITY AIRPORT SCALES BACK GROWTH PLANS
London City Airport today announced it has scaled back its expansion proposals following a consultation earlier this year.
It has:
· Reduced the hours it proposed to fly on Saturdays
· Cut back on the number of extra flights allowed in the early morning
· Abandoned plans for late evening flying
The airport will now submit a formal application to Newham Council, the planning Authority. Newham will carry out a formal consultation before masking a decision.
At present no flights are permitted between 12.30pm on Saturdays and 12.30pm on Sundays. In the consultation London City had proposed all-day flying on Saturdays. The plan now is for flights on Saturday to end at 6.30pm (7.30pm at the height of summer).
The airport proposed six extra flights during the first hour of operation, from 6.30am – 7am. That has been scaled back to three additional flights.
Airlines will be required to use new, quieter aircraft on Saturday afternoons.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents under the flight paths, said, “The scaling back is welcome but our members our concerned that the new planes will only be noticeably quieter on departure and only for communities within a few miles of the airport.”
The airport will now submit a formal application to Newham Council, the planning Authority. Newham will carry out a formal consultation before masking a decision.
ENDS
For further information: John Stewart on 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
29/8/22 embargoed until 00.01 30/8/22
NEW REPORT CHALLENGES LONDON CITY CLAIMS ABOUT ITS NEW ‘QUIETER’ PLANES
“Double the planes will mean double the disturbance, whatever planes London City Airport’s airlines decide to fly.”
A new report published today (1) by the campaign group HACAN East challenges claims by London City Airport that the new generation of aircraft, the centrepiece of its expansion proposals currently out for consultation, will be quieter for communities.London City has admitted that the new aircraft will only be significantly quieter for departures, and then only close to the airport runway but argues that other London communities can expect the new generation aircraft to be 2-3 decibels quieter than old generation aircraft.
The HACAN East report, which took measurements in South East London, found there was a 1.1 average decibel difference between new generation and old generation planes. This difference would not be noticeable to the human ear.
The airport is consulting on proposals to extend the hours of operation and to increase passenger numbers from 6.5 million to 9 million a year (2). Only these new aircraft will be allowed during the additional hours of operation – London City believes this will act as an incentive for airlines to renew their fleet so they become the norm at all times.
During the consultation London City has argued that the newest plane, the Embraer E190-E2, will have a 60% smaller noise footprint but that is confined to areas close to the airport.
Forest Hill resident Tim Walker, who helped compile the report, said, “London City plans to expand from the current level of around 50,000 movements per year to 110,000. But for many Londoners double the planes will simply mean double the disturbance, whatever planes London City Airport’s airlines decide to fly.”
HACAN East asked volunteers at five separate locations along or just off the flight path to take sets of readings including new generation and old generation planes. The locations were along a five mile section of the flight path, including Mottingham (SE9) 29km from landing to Catford (SE6) 26km from landing and the gardens of the Horniman Museum (SE23) in the west, 22km from landing. Monitoring sites were mostly directly under the path, with one offset to the side by a kilometre.
To make the measurements observers used a noise measurement app devised and calibrated for this purpose in the Netherlands. Over July and August 2022 265 individual measurements were taken at different times of day and in different wind and weather conditions. Plane types were cross checked against London City’s tracking system.
The noisiest location was at the Horniman Museum Gardens, one of SE London’s most treasured public parks on a hill directly under the low flight path but still 22km flying distance from the airport. Readings here from all plane types were very high, with most readings around 77-80 decibels.
HACAN East chair John Stewart said, “Our citizen research study concludes that there is no noticeable reduction in noise for the overflown communities of SE London from new generation planes”.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Link to the report
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/56507de4e4b018da2a5ce870/t/630c7eaf5feb6109382efbc7/1661763260459/Citizen+Research+study+-+London+City+aircraft+noise+Aug+2022.pdf (If this link doesn’t work, try the link on the main menu).
(2). London City is consulting on:
an increase in annual passenger limit from 6.5million to 9million;
getting rid of the current curfew on flights (12.30pm Saturday – 12.30pm Sunday) to allow flying on a Saturday afternoon and evening - there will be no change to the current operating hours on Sunday, with no flights before 12.30pm;
An increase in the number of flights permitted between 06:30 and 06:59, from 6 to 12
more flexibility’ for delayed departures and arrivals in the last half hour of operations each day (10pm – 10.30pm) – they are currently limited to 400 per year;
The consultation ends on 9th September. If London City decides to take forward any of the proposals, it is required to present them to Newham Council, the planning authority, who will undertake a formal public consultation.
For more information:
Tim Walker: 07941 834780.
John Stewart, Chair HACAN East (which gives a voice to residents impacted by London City): 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
25/7/22 for immediate use
SPARSELY ATTENDED LONDON CITY CONSULTATION EVENTS ‘POORLY ADVERTISED’
London City’s consultation exhibitions into its expansion proposals have been poorly attended. Just nine people came to its final one in Waltham Forest during a four hour period. Only three people were seen at the one in Lewisham over two hours (1).
Campaign group, HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents impacted by London City, accused the airport of failing to publicise them properly and of holding some of them away from the flight paths.
HACAN East chair John Stewart said, “The numbers attending are beyond poor. Yet there is no lack of interest in the airport’s expansion proposals. We are getting enquiries every day and have seen the biggest increase in our supporter base for years. The simple fact is that the exhibitions were poorly advertised and some of them, like the last one in Waltham Forest, held in a venue some miles from the regular flight path.”
HACAN East understands the venues were chosen by the airport’s PR agency, Cratus.
London City wants to:
increase passenger numbers from 6.5 million to 9 million each year;
get rid of the current curfew on flights (12.30pm Saturday – 12.30pm Sunday) to allow flying on a Saturday afternoon and evening;
increase the number of flights permitted between 06:30 and 06:59, from 6 to 12have ‘more flexibility’ for delayed departures and arrivals in the last half hour of operations each day (10pm – 10.30pm) – they are currently limited to 400 per year;
The consultation ends on 9th September. Whatever plans London City takes forward will need to be submitted to Newham Council, the planning authority.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
(1). The consultation events were held at
Newham: Tuesday 12th July, 3:30 – 7:30pm, Britannia Village Hall, 65 Evelyn Road, E16 1TU
Tower Hamlets: Wednesday 13th July, 3:30 – 7:30pm, Bernie Cameron Community Centre, 32 Merchant Street, Bow, E3 4LX
Lewisham: Thursday 14th July, 10am – 2pm, St Mary’s Centre, 37 Ladywell Road, SE13 7UT
City of London: Thursday 14th July, 3:30 – 7:30pm, Dutch Church, 7 Austin Friars, EC2N 2HA
Redbridge: Monday 18th July, 3:30 – 7:30pm, Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford, IG1 1EA
Greenwich: Tuesday 19th July, 3:30 – 7:30pm, Clockhouse Community Centre, London, SE18 5QL
Waltham Forest: Friday 22nd July, 3:30 – 7:30pm, Priory Court Community Centre, 11 Priory Court, E17 5NB
For more information: John Stewart 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
11/7/22 for immediate use
RESIDENTS CALL ON LONDON CITY AIRPORT TO ‘COME CLEAN’ ON ITS PLANS FOR SATURDAY FLYING
Residents have called on London City Airport to come clean on how many planes will operate on Saturdays under its plans, currently out for consultation (1). A key plank of the plans is to permit planes to fly on Saturday afternoon and evening for the first time. Currently no aircraft are allowed between 12.30pm on Saturday until 12.30pm on Sunday. London City only admits that ‘some’ aircraft will fly after 12.30pm on Saturday.
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents impacted by London City, accused the airport of being less than open.
He said, “The airport has got to come clean about how many planes it expects will fly on Saturday afternoons and evenings. There is a huge difference between 5 an hour and 45 an hour. We understand it cannot give an exact figure but is needs to give an indication to people who are responding to the consultation.”
London City also wants to run more early morning and late evening planes and to increase passenger numbers from 6.5 to 9 million a year.
The consultation runs until 9th September. If the airport decides to take the plans forward, there will need to be another consultation by the London Borough of Newham, the planning authority.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
For further information:
John Stewart on 0795738560
PRESS RELEASE
1/7/22 for immediate use
RESIDENTS EXPRESS ANGER AT LONDON CITY AIRPORT GROWTH PROPOSALS
Residents face the prospect of more planes at weekends and in the early morning and late evenings under plans announced today by London City Airport. The proposals will go out today for a 10 week period of consultation (1).
The airport will be seeking permission to:
· Increase passenger numbers from 6.5 million to 9 million a year
· Get rid of the ban on flights on Saturday afternoon and evening
· Operate more flights during the first hour of operation after 6.30am and in the latte evening
The annual cap on the number of flights permitted will remain at 111,000. Earlier proposals to raise it to 151,000 have been dropped. The 8 hour night plan will also remain in place.
But residents’ organisation HACAN East said there would be anger amongst communities at the plans to operate more flights at weekends and in the early morning and late evening.
HACAN East Chair said: “Ever since London City opened residents have had a break from the noise between midday Saturday and midday Sunday. There will be anger that the only break now will be for a few hours on Sunday morning.”
The airport will stipulate that only the cleaner, quieter planes can fly during the additional hours of operation.
John Stewart commented: “But these planes are only noticeably quieter on when taking off over communities close to the airport.”
These planes are larger. This is why the airport can propose increasing the number of passengers using it each year without also seeking to lift the annual cap on flight numbers.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). The consultation will start on 1st July and run until 9th September. London City will be holding a number of exhibitions. If, after the consultation, London City wishes to proceed with its proposals, it will need to be subject to a formal consultation by the planning authority, the London Borough of Newham.
For further information: John Stewart on 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
Embargoed until 6/11/21
CLIMATE COP QUIZ ON PRIVATE JETS
To mark the Climate Summit in Glasgow – COP 26 – campaign group HACAN East has issued a quiz (1) about private jets which many of the official delegates to the Summit will be using.
HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents under the London City Airport flight paths, has released the quiz to coincide with aviation climate-related events from campaign groups from around the world, being coordinated by Stay Grounded (2). The themes highlighted by the events are ‘greenwashing’ and the need to tackle flight numbers.
HACAN East Coordinator John Stewart said, “Our fun quiz has a serious side. It is intended to show just how bad for the climate private jets are. And, of course, London City is one of the main private jet airports in the UK.”
Did you know that:
· London has more private jet hire than any other airport in Europe
· Between 2005 & 2019 European CO2 emissions from private jets rose by almost a third
· A typical 4 hour private jet flight emits as much CO2 as the average person does in a year
· And that in 2020 Donald Trump spent the most on private jet hire
ENDS
Notes for Editors
(1). Link to the full quiz:
Link to a video of the quiz: https://youtu.be/EljaHeKmrSc
(2). https://stay-grounded.org/events/stay-grounded-action-day-against-greenwashing-of-air-traffic/
For more information: John Stewart on 07957385650; Ray Stewart (Stay Grounded UK); uk@stay-grounded.org; +44(0)7708794665
3/9/2021 for immediate use
Campaigners have accused London City Airport of being disingenuous over claims that the new aircraft which made its first commercial flight to the airport last night is 63% quieter on take-off.
John Stewart, chair HACAN East, the group which gives a voice to residents under the Heathrow flight paths, said, "London City's claims are disingenous. The 63% reduction in take-off noise only applies to people living within about a couple of miles of the airport. The noise benefits for other residents are much smaller."
The airport has said that the Embraer E190-E2 also uses less fuel.
ENDS
For more information: John Stewart on 07957385650
4/12/20 for immediate use
London City Airport has confirmed that it wants the cap on the annual number of flights permitted to use the airport lifted. In its Master Plan launched today it said it would like the cap of 111,000 raised to 151,000.
But the much-delayed Master Plan confirmed that the airport had dropped its controversial proposal to end the current weekend break when no flights are permitted between midday Saturday and midday Sunday. It has also dropped plans to introduce more early morning and late evening flights.
John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents under the flight paths, said, “There will be dismay amongst residents that London City wants to lift the annual cap on flight numbers but relief it has dropped its plans to end the weekend break and bring in more late evening and early morning flights.”
London City has stressed that its aim of 151,000 flights is aspirational. Pre-Covid the number of flights using the airport hovered at just over 80,000 a year but this year has seen flight numbers drop by over 90%.
In order to get the annual cap lifted, the airport would need to submit a planning application to the Newham Council, the planning authority. Given the current uncertainty around when passengers will return to the airport, there is no indication that London City has any plans to submit the application in the short-term.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). https://media.londoncityairport.com/london-city-airport-publishes-master-plan/
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
17/03/20, embargoed until 19/03/20 00.01 hours
NEW INDEPENDENT REPORT: LONDON CITY AIRPORT HAS OVERESTIMATED THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF EXPANSION BY AS MUCH AS 50%
A major new report (1) has found London City Airport has overestimated the economic benefits of its expansion proposals by as much as 50%. The report, commissioned by campaign group HACAN East from the independent Dutch consultants CE Delft (2), shows that the benefits of the proposed expansion would be over £200 million less than the airport has claimed.
In its draft Master Plan London City said it wanted to:
· Almost double the number of flights from their current level
· Get rid of the 24 hour weekend break when they are no flights
· Operate more early morning and late evening flights
In its final Master Plan, due to be published shortly, the London City is expected to put on hold the proposals to end the 24 hour weekend break and to operate more flights in the early morning and late evening but to proceed with its central plan to increase significantly the number of flights using the airport.
Jasper Faber, the main author of the report, said, “We are in little doubt that the economic benefits of expansion are much lower than the airport has claimed. We discovered a number of key errors in the way the benefits have been calculated.”
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East, said, “The message of this report is clear. Many of the economic benefits London City is claiming for expansion are fanciful. They do not stand up to basic scrutiny.”
Stewart added: “London City did not even include the economic costs of noise if expansion takes place. And yet the noise is already bad. London City impacts more people than any other UK airport except Heathrow and Manchester (3). Indeed some communities are overflown by both Heathrow and City aircraft.”
HACAN East has concluded that London City expansion is bad for overflown Londoners, for the environment and is in the end of benefit largely to its overseas owners and shareholders.
The report found that London City failed to factor in the costs of noise, air pollution and climate change if expansion takes place and made claims about the benefits to UK trade which it cannot back up. It also failed to make clear the difference between local and national benefits of expansion. CE Delft estimates that the total benefit to the economy of expansion should be cut from the £586 million claimed by the airport cannot be more than £353 million. CE Delft is also critical that London City did not properly follow Government guidance (4) when assessing the impact of expansion.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Report attached, plus a briefing of the key points
(2). CE Delft are respected international consultants based in the Netherlands. They have done work for the European Commission, national governments, the aviation sector and NGOs. Jasper Faber is their Director of Aviation and Maritime Transport.
(3). European Commission figures
(4). WebTAG is the UK Department for Transport’s multimodal guidance on appraising transport projects and proposals.
For further information: John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
Press Release
5/3/20 for immediate use
LONDON CITY AIRPORT BACKS DOWN ON KEY EXPANSION PROPOSALS
London City Airport has dropped its controversial plans to get rid of the 24 hour weekend break from the planes and to operate more early morning and late evening flights.
It told its Consultative Committee today that it would not be proceeding with these two key proposals it had outlined in its draft Master Plan which it consulted in earlier this year.
The airport may still want to seek to lift the current annual cap on flight numbers, the other main proposal outlined in the draft Master Plan, but did not expect to do so any time soon.
London City intends to publish its final Master Plan before the end of the month but has no immediate plans to put in a planning application to lift the cap. Whether and when they do it will depend on the sort of growth the airport is experiencing.
London City’s expansion plans had generated record levels of opposition from local authorities and communities impacted by the airport. The Mayor of London also came out in opposition.
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East, the campaign group which had led the fight against the campaign proposals: “We are delighted that London City has listened to what people had to say and has dropped the plans to remove the weekend break and to bring in more early morning and late evening flights. However, we will continue to oppose and attempt to lift the annual flight cap.
ENDS
For more information: John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
11/2/20 for immediate release
HACAN EAST WRITES TO LONDON CITY AIRPORT OWNERS AS DEMONSTRATION TAKES PLACE OUTSIDE THEIR LONDON OFFICES
To coincide with the demonstration that took place today outside the offices of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (attached), owners of London City Airport, HACAN East released a letter (attached) it has written to the company’s chief executive about the airport’s proposed expansion plans.
In its draft Master Plan, released last year, London City proposed:
· an almost doubling of flight numbers from their current levels;
· the end of the 24 weekend break from the noise;
· more early morning and late evening flights.
In its letter to the chief executive HACAN East question how “in the light of well-established worldwide urgency of reducing fossil fuel use, this investment can possibly fit into the portfolio of a pension management group claiming sustainability, ethical investment and corporate social responsibility”.
HACAN East chair John Stewart who spoke at the rally said, “It is important that the owners of the airport, based thousands of miles across the Atlantic, are aware of the widespread opposition there is to the expansion proposals. And of the local and global impacts of their plans.”
Today’s demonstration in Portland Square in Central London was organised by Extinction Rebellion Newham. Speakers included Amelia Womack, deputy leader Green Party, Rupert Read , a national spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion, Murad Qureshi, former chair of the London Assembly’s Environment Committee and HACAN East chair John Stewart.
The airport is expected to publish its final Master Plan in a few weeks time. If it wants to take any of its expansion proposals forward, it will need to submit a detailed planning application to Newham Council, the Planning Authority.
ENDS
For more information: John Stewart on 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
28/01/20 for immediate use
FEARS LONDON CITY MAY REJECT THOUSANDS OF OBJECTIONS TO ITS DRAFT MASTER PLAN
Fear are growing that London City Airport may be about to reject thousands of objections to the expansion plans outlined in its draft Master Plan which is consulted on last autumn. The airport has refused to confirm that it will include all the objections it received. It has also failed to set a date for its Consultative Committee to consider the results of the consultation.
London City told a meeting of the last consultative committee at the end of last year that it was assessing 1800 online responses to the consultation but gave no guarantee that it would consider the thousands of postcards sent in objecting to the proposals.
Outraged residents have joined HACAN East’s ‘Count My Card’ campaign launched this week.
Thousands of residents sent in cards objection to the expansion plans using London City’s Freepost address
The airport plans to:
· - almost double the number of flights from their current level
· - end the 24 hour weekend break from the noise
· - operate more early morning and late evening flights
John Stewart, chair of campaign group HACAN East, said, “It will be outrageous if London City doesn’t count all the responses it received. We are calling on the airport to give us a cast-iron guarantee that it will not fiddle the figures.”
HACAN East understands that the final Master Plan may now not be published until the end of February. If the airport decides to proceed with any of its expansion plans, it will need to draw up a detailed application to be considered by the planning authority, Newham Council.
ENDS
Notes for Editors: picture attached
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
Alan Haughton on 07909907395
PRESS RELEASE
20/10/19 for immediate use
Record Number of Local Authorities Oppose London City’s Expansion Proposals
A record number of local authorities have come out against London City Airport’s expansion proposals. The consultation on the proposals contained in its draft Master Plan ended on Friday 18th October. Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Redbridge, Havering and Lewisham have objected to it. So has the London Assembly. The Mayor of London, Bexley, Greenwich and Barking and Dagenham have not yet published their responses.
In the draft Master Plan London City proposed to:
· Almost double flight numbers from the current level;
· End the 24 hour break from flights;
· Operate more early morning and late evening flights.
John Stewart who chairs HACAN East, the campaign group which gives a voice to residents impacted by London City, said, “The airport will be under intense pressure to drop its expansion proposals. Never before has it faced this scale of opposition.”
London City is now looking at the responses and says it is still on course to produce a final Master Plan before the end of the year. If it wants to take any of the proposals forward it will need to put in a detailed planning application to Newham Council, the planning authority.
ENDS
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
Alan Haughton on 07909907395
PRESS RELEASE
1/9/19 for immediate use
LONDON CITY AIRPORT ADMITS DOESn’t kNOW CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF PROPOSED EXPANSION PLANS
London City Airport has admitted that it does not know the impact on climate change emissions of the expansion proposals outlined in its draft Master Plan currently out for consultation (1). The information is buried in one of the more documents the airport issued last Friday (2).
It says: “It is not possible at this time to calculate total emissions which might arise from the draft Master Plan.” It does say that, because there will be bigger planes each carrying more passengers, the emissions per passenger may fall but it gives no information about total emissions levels if its proposal to almost double flight numbers from their current level gets the go-ahead.
John Stewart, chair HACAN East, the campaign body which gives a voice to residents under London City flight paths said, “It is little wonder that the airport has been so reluctant to make this document public. It simply does not know what the total impact on climate change would be of its expansion plans. At a time when concern about the climate is higher than ever before, this would seem to be a massive own goal.”
London City does admit it will need to assess the climate impact if seeks formal permission for its expansion proposals.
The airport wants to:
· Almost double the number of flights currently using the airport
· Get rid of the weekend break from the noise from Saturday 12.30pm until Sunday 12.30pm
· Bring in more early morning and late evening flights
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). “It is not possible at this time to calculate total emissions which might arise from the draft Master Plan because this relies upon the accurate quantification of GHG emissions using detailed modelling and data from a combination of aircraft forecasts, fleet mix composition, construction and engineering designs, energy supply, and other details of the proposed future infrastructure. However, during the Master Plan period up to 2035, it can be expected that further improvements in aircraft fuel efficiency and emissions will take place as greater numbers of ‘new generation’ aircraft such as the Airbus A220-100 are introduced to the fleet. Moreover, the airport is predicted to accommodate an approximate 69% increase in passengers by 2035 (i.e. from 6.5 to 11 million passengers per annum) coupled with only a 36% increase in flights (i.e. from the 111,000 ATMs to 151,000 ATMs) and with only limited additional infrastructure. As such, provisional analysis would suggest that carbon emissions per passenger will decrease even further over the Master Plan period. 2.29 Should a detailed proposal come forward in the future, the airport would need to assess the total GHG emissions of that proposal as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)”. Section 2.2 of the document the airport released on Friday outlining the climate impacts of its expansion proposals:
(2). On Friday 30th August, London City released a number additional documents in response to criticism that its Draft Master Plan contained insufficient detail. It also extended the period for public consultation on the Master Plan by a month to 18th October.
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
30/8/19 for immediate use
LONDON CITY AIRPORT EXTENDS CONSULTATION ON ITS EXPANSION PROPOSALS BY A MONTH
Today London City Airport announced that it is extending the deadline for responses to its controversial Master Plan by a month to October 18th. It has also put on its website a lot of detailed papers on how it arrived at it facts and figures.
Recently the Mayor of Newham wrote a highly critical letter to City Airport CEO Robert Sinclair calling the consultation ‘fundamentally flawed’ and asking it be withdrawn until more detail was provided, in particular on how the expansion proposals would impact on noise and climate change.
London City wants to:
Almost double the number of flights currently using the airport
Get rid of the weekend break from the noise from Saturday 12.30pm until Sunday 12.30pm
Bring in more early morning and late evening flights
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, the campaign group which gives a voice to residents under City’s flight paths, said, “This is clearly the action of an airport under pressure. It is astonishing that London City did not realise from the start that people would be clamouring to find out how it justified the significant levels of expansion it is proposing.”
If the airport wants to proceed with any of its proposals, it will be required to produce a final Master Plan and then present a detailed application to Newham Council, the planning authority.
ENDS
For more information: John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
PRESS RELEASE
26/8/19 for immediate use
LONDON CITY’S CLAIMS ABOUT QUIETER PLANES UNDERMINED BY ITS OWN FIGURES
London City Airport’s claim that quieter planes will reduce noise levels even if its controversial proposals in its Master Plan to almost double flight numbers from today’s levels go through have been undermined by its own research.
London City had claimed that the new generation of aircraft would be 14 decibels quieter than the older planes. But measurements taken for the airport by independent consultants contained in a report London City has not yet released show the new aircraft to be only 2 or 3 decibels quieter than the equivalent planes currently using the airport.
The report (1), which has been obtained by campaign group HACAN East, was compiled by consultants Bickerdike Allen Partners for London City Airport. They measured the noise of different types of aircraft approaching the airport under the SE London concentrated arrivals path in level flight at 2000 ft over a property in Lambeth in South London.
They found that the only new generation plane currently in service – the Airbus A220-100 – was at best only 3 decibels quieter than the older planes of equivalent size still using the airport.
HACAN East chair John Stewart said, “London City’s own results show that the much-vaunted new generation of aircraft are only marginally quieter than the existing aircraft. The difference is so small that it will be hardly perceptible to people on the ground.”
Tim Walker, a resident of Lewisham who lives close to the arrivals flight path, said “ These measurements are truly alarming for Londoners. We now know that even with new generation aircraft, if London City doubles the number of flights the noise impact under this flight path will pretty much double with them. ”.
In the latest edition of its community magazine, E16, London City claims that a similar plane to the Airbus A220-100, the Embraer E190-E2, still to come into service, would be 14 decibels quieter than the other large planes using the airport (2). The airport has privately acknowledged that the information was solely based on claims by the aircraft manufacturer but London City has not publicly retracted the statement.
In its draft Master Plan, currently out for public consultation, the airport again emphasises the quieter planes which will be using the airport: “The airport is attracting a new generation of aircraft which are quieter, more fuel efficient, and deliver lower carbon emissions per passenger. The Airbus A220- 100 and Embraer E190-E2 are leading this field currently, with Swissair already using the A220.” (3).
The Master Plan is proposing to almost double flight numbers, abolish the 24 hour weekend break from the noise, and bring in more early morning and late evening flights.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Link to report: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A15b51eb7-0f32-4d3c-9317-c01ea1fae5c1
(2). “New generation aircraft The airport is attracting a new generation of aircraft which are quieter, more fuel efficient, and deliver lower carbon emissions per passenger. The Airbus A220- 100 and Embraer E190-E2 are leading this field currently, with SWISS already operating the A220. The E190-E2 came to LCY on a test flight last year and the certification process, which will allow it to operate here regularly, is ongoing. It burns 17.3% less fuel than the first-generation E190 and is 14 dB quieter - the quietest single-aisle jet in the world”.
(3). “In recent years there has been an emergence of new quieter, cleaner, jet aircraft, which offer improved operational performance and reduced impacts. These aircraft, such as the Embraer E2 Jets and Airbus A220- 100 (previously Bombardier CS100), are highly efficient in terms of engine power plant performance and fuel consumption. Importantly, they are quieter than their predecessors, offer improved passenger experience and open up new destinations by flying a longer range. The first new generation aircraft (A220-100) started operations at the airport with Swiss Airlines in 2017, and the expectation is that Embraer E190-E2 aircraft will be certified to operate in 2020. In EASA certification testing to date, the E190-E2 had the lowest noise levels among all new generation single aisle aircraft and offers a significant improvement compared to the current Embraer E-jets and other aircraft types”.
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
Tim Walker on 07941 834780
PRESS RELEASE
15/8/19 for immediate use
CAMPAIGNERS APPLAUD MAYOR OF NEWHAM’S CALL ON LONDON CITY AIRPORT TO HALT ITS CONSULTATION ON EXPANSION
Campaigners have welcomed today’s call by Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz for London City to halt its consultation on expanding the airport until it provides more detail on how it plans to tackle noise and climate emissions.
In a letter (1) to City Airport chief executive Robert Sinclair the mayor called the consultation “fundmentally flawed.”
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents under the airport’s flight paths, said, “The significance of this move by the mayor cannot be overstated. Newham is the planning authority for the airport. This letter throws down the gauntlet to the airport to come up with a Master Plan that works for residents and for the climate.”
The draft Master Plan is currently out for consultation. In it London City is proposing to almost doubling flights from their current level, doing away with the 24 weekend break, and bring in more flights in the early morning and late evening. The consultation closes on 20th September.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Mayor’s letter below.
For more information:
John Stewart on 07957385650
Mayor of Newham's letter to London City CEO
Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz has today called on London City Airport to halt its current consultation on its masterplan, calling for more evidence on how the airport will tackle air and noise pollution in light of the current climate emergency.
Consultation for London City Airport’s Draft Master Plan started on 28 June for 12 weeks and seeks views for its vision for the next 15 years. As the local planning authority, Newham Council has submitted a technical response. However following the climate emergency, the council declared earlier this year, Mayor Fiaz has asked for the consultation to stop until more evidence and detail has been provided of the airport’s plans to tackle air and noise pollution.
In the letter Mayor Fiaz writes: “You’ll be aware that local residents in Newham are gravely concerned about the possibilities that flow from the high level forecasts set out in the Draft Master Plan in respect of both passenger and aircraft movements up to 2035. In the absence of publicly available detailed information, the council would struggle to support London City Airport’s justification for the increase in the number of flights.
“Additionally, the airport’s proposed increase in the number of flights contradicts the Green Paper on Aviation which amongst other things state that forecast increased demand for flights across the UK can be met through a combination of a third runway at Heathrow Airport and the maximisation of existing runway capacity at other airports. On this basis the council would further struggle to support London City Airport’s proposals.
“Furthermore, when elected as Mayor of Newham in May 2018, I made a manifesto commitment to support sustainable transport and improve air quality in the borough because Newham has the highest number of deaths in London attributable to air pollution with some 96 dying prematurely each year due to respiratory diseases.
“Most recently, Newham Council declared a climate emergency, which you are aware of, and we have established an Air Quality and Climate Emergency Taskforce to implement a plan of action to achieve a carbon neutral position by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050.
“Achieving this urgent agenda for the health and wellbeing of our residents and for the survival of our planet requires partnership working by the council at all levels, so in the context of your proposals we’d expected to have seen ‘emissions from airborne aircraft’ detailed in your aims to achieve the level 3+ neutrality that you claim to seek by 2020.
“The ambiguity and contradictions contained within the Draft Master Plan must be urgently addressed ahead of a complaint Aviation Policy Framework consultation; and the only conclusion I can presently reach is that the current consultation is fundamentally flawed because of the lack of clarity and information provided.
“With this in mind, I urge London City Airport to halt the consultation with immediate effect; and not commence a new consultation until London City Airport publishes the omitted technical details that are necessary to enable informed responses to be submitted by interested parties including Newham’s Local Planning Authority.”Link to our press release: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Newham-Mayor-Press-Release.pdf
PRESS RELEASE
30/7/19 for immediate use
OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST LONDON CITY AIRPORT EXPANSION PLANS
HACAN East today marked the official launch of its campaign against the proposed expansion of London City Airport with the release of thousands of postcards which will be distributed to households impacted by London City Airport over the next month. Caroline Russell, the Green London Assembly member who chairs its Environment Committee, joined local people in Docklands at the launch .
The postcards call on residents to back the existing 24 hour weekend ban on aircraft using London City. It wants the airport drop its proposals to end the 24 hour break as well as its plans to almost double flight numbers from today’s levels and to increase flights in the early morning and late evening.
The postcard campaign will be backed up by posters, public meetings, adverts and eye-catching events to get across to people the scale of the airport’s plans.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which gives a voice to communities impacted by the airport, said “London City is planning to take away from people what they most value: their 24 hour weekend break from the flights. We are calling on people to back the current ban.”
Caroline Russell said at the launch of the campaign, “Londoners lives are made a misery by aircraft noise. It’s really important people have their say to stop any expansion at City Airport especially into the weekends when flights are currently banned. It’s shocking that residents have to organise and campaign to keep their peace and quiet. I totally back the ban.”
Stewart added, “The plan to almost double flight numbers has also caused a lot of anger. People tell us noise levels are bad enough as they are.”
All the proposals are contained in London City’s draft Master Plan which is out to public consultation (1). The Master Plan sets out the airport’s aspirations until 2035. If it decided to take any of the proposals forward it would need to submit then for approval to Newham Council, the planning authority for the airport.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
Alan Haughton on 079099907395
PRESS RELEASE
14/7/19 for immediate use
CAMPAIGNERS ACCUSE LONDON CITY OF MISLEADING THE PUBLIC ON QUIETER PLANES
Campaigners have accused London City Airport of misleading people about the impact of the quieter aircraft it claims will be introduced over the next few years. Noise experts have told the campaign group HACAN East that the benefits for local residents will be a lot less than recent publications have claimed.
London City’s Master Plan (1), currently out for consultation, says the new planes will be “quieter than their predecessors.” The current edition of Inside E16, the airport’s magazine which is distributed to local homes, goes further. It says the new planes will be 14 decibels quieter, which would more than halve the noise of an aircraft overhead. The airport has not published any data to back up these claims.
HACAN East chair John Stewart, said, "The experts we spoke to expected planes to be about 6 decibels quieter as they departed the airport but for many communities the improvement would only be around 2-3 decibels. A 2-3 decibel difference in aircraft noise is almost imperceptible to the human ear " .
Stewart said, “To say that the airport is not being completely straightforward with residents would be a massive understatement. It is becoming clear that for most people, if the expansion plans go ahead, the noise climate will get worse.”
In its Master Plan London City has announced proposals to double aircraft numbers from the current levels, end the 24 hour weekend break free of flights and bring in more planes during the early morning and late evening.
HACAN East also criticized the airport for its modest ambition to have only 75% of the fleet as this new generation of less noisy planes by 2035 and of failing to make clear it does not have the power to ensure the airlines operating at the airport buy these quieter planes.
ENDS
Notes for editors: The full Master Plan
For further information: John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
8/7/19 for immediate use
Local campaigners have branded London City’s consultation of its expansion plans as ‘third-rate.’ The airport is consulting on its draft Master Plan (1) which sets out its plans for the future. These include proposals for a near-doubling of flights from current levels, an end to the 24 hour weekend break from the planes and more early morning and late evening flights.
The airport has put details of its plans on its website and placed adverts in some local papers. But it is only holding five public exhibition events (2).
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East which campaigns on behalf of local residents, said, “This is at best a third-rate consultation. The simple fact is that a lot of people will have no way of knowing that the airport is proposing a near-doubling of flights over their heads.”
The Master Plan sets out London City’s vision for its future up until 2035. It is expected to publish a final Master Plan next year.
If it still wants to proceed with its plans, it will need to gets permission from the London Borough of Newham, the planning authority. But the Mayor of London could override Newham. The borough would then be expected to go to an appeal which would be heard by a Planning Inquiry where the final decision would be made by the Secretary of State for Transport.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
(1). The full consultation: https://assets.ctfassets.net/ggj4kbqgcch2/2mPk96XvzYbi3gJiSB6kbQ/8348be50e732fb0aa1daba2fb18b9516/p01-85_LCY_MP_Final_Reduced.pdf
The consultation runs from 28th June to 20th September.
(2). The consultation events:
Broadwater Village Hall, 1C Goosanst Thamesmead, London SE28 0ER, 9th July, 3.30pm - 7.30pm
Canning Town Library, Rathbone Market, 18 Barking Rd, Canning Town, London E16 1EH, 10th July, from 4.30pm - 7.30pm
The City Centre, 80 Basinghall St, London EC2V 5AR, 11th September, from 12 noon - 7pm
Southern Grove Community Centre, Southern Grove, Mile End, London, E3 4FX, 12th September, from 3.30pm - 7.30pm
Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre, Albert Rd, Royal Docks, London E16 2JB, 14th September,10am - 4pm.
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
27th June embargoed until 28/6/19, 00.01hrs
Residents are dismayed by the London City expansion revealed in its Master Plan published today. The airport wants to lift the current cap of 111,000 flights allowed each year to 137,000 by 2030 and to 151,000 by 2035. Last year there were just over 75,000 flights.
The airport also wants to get rid of the ban on flights between 12.30pm Saturday and 12,30pm on Sunday. Additionally it is proposing that more flights are allowed to operate in the early morning and late evening.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents under the airport’s flight paths, said, “For all its green talk, this plan would be disastrous for residents. Flight numbers could double from today’s levels. And, to rub in the pain, the airport is looking to ease the restrictions at weekends and in the early morning and late evening.”
The consultation ruins from 28th June to 20th September.
London City would need to go to a Planning Inquiry to get permission for any proposals it intends to take forward.
Notes for Editors:
Read draft Master Plan Summary:
Read London City Press Release
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
14th May 2019 for immediate use
London City Airport has put back its plans to review its flights paths. Information from the Civil Aviation Authority (1), which will oversee the process, reveals that the airport has decided not to start its review, originally expected next month, until the autumn. It is thought the delay is to avoid a clash with consultation on its Master Plan, expected to be released shortly, which might include options for further expansion at the airport.
London City has been asked to review its flight paths as part of a wider shake-up of flight paths which will take place over the next few years at all airports in London and the South East. City took the controversial step of concentrating all its arrival and departure routes in 2016. The move resulted in a five-fold increase in complaints as particular communities bore the brunt of the noise. Complaints poured in from as far afield as Eltham and the Oval.
John Stewart, chair of campaign group HACAN East, which led the campaign against the concentrated flight paths, said, “We are delighted that the flight paths are being reviewed but the sooner it happens the better. So many people are suffering from the noise. Some have had their lives turned upside down by it. We will be pressing for more routes to be introduced so that no one community is overflown all day long. Everybody should have a break from the noise.”
London City’s Master Plan will lay out options for future development of the airport over the next couple of decades or so. It is expected that the airport will consider applying for the current cap of 111,000 flights allowed to use the airport each year to be lifted. It is likely to consult on the Master Plan this summer.
Stewart said, “There will be widespread opposition to the lifting of the cap. It provides reassurance for residents that flight numbers will not increase indefinitely. At present there are around 85,000 flights a year using the airport. The current cap is high enough for an airport situated in a densely populated corner of London.”
All airports in the UK will be looking again at their flights paths over the next few years as air traffic controllers move from a ground-based system to a satellite system to guide planes in and out of airports. The new system allows for more precise flight paths which will reduce fuel costs for the airlines and improve the resilience of airports.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
1. CAA information sheet file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/2_Indicative%20Timeline%20Change%20Request%20Form%20(1).pdf
Full CAA document
https://airspacechange.caa.co.uk/PublicProposalArea?pID=131
For further information: John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
09/04/19 for immediate use
Figures released by campaign group HACAN East reveal that, although London City is only the 14th busiest airport in the UK, it comes in the top three for impact. It affects 74,000 people, more than any airport in the country except Heathrow and Manchester (1). And that is just those people living within the EU-defined noise contour.
Figures published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) late last year show that 747,300 people are impacted by City planes flying below 4,000ft (2).
HACAN East has produced a montage of photographs (3) showing places, some of them many miles from the airport, where aircraft are lower than 3,000ft; and in many places less than 2,000ft.
HACAN East Chair John Stewart said, “We all know how very noisy it is to live close to the airport in places like Thamesmead and the Royal Docks but the size of the airport can often mask the extent of its noise footprint. It extends many, many miles from the airport.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(2),http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP1692C_ModuleC_FinalV3(P_LINKS).pdf
(3). See our news page
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
26/2/19 for immediate use
New figures compiled by campaign group HACAN East shows that London City Airport impacts 75,000 people (see table below). That places it third in the UK behind Heathrow and Manchester. It affects more people than all the other airports in the South East combined excluding Heathrow.
The figures are taken from the noise action plans which airports are required to produce every five years. The latest plans were released just a few weeks ago.
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East, the body which gives a voice to residents under London City flight paths, said, “Since it opened just over 30 years ago London City has lived in the shadow of Heathrow. But its impact is far from insignificant. Only Heathrow and Manchester impact more people”.
The number of planes using London City has grown noticeably since it opened. And in recent years new house building, particularly in East London has increased the population under its flight paths.
Stewart added, “Residents fear that London City’s new master plan, due out this summer, will propose further expansion of the airport. At present there is an annual cap on the number of aircraft allowed to use the airport (1). It is essential for the growing number of people impacted by planes from the airport that it is not lifted.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). No more than 111,000 flights are allowed to use the airport each year. Over the last few years the number has hovered between 80,000 and 85,000.
The numbers are taken from the new noise action plans drawn up by the airports, published in early 2019.
Airport Number of people in 55Lden* contour
Heathrow
683,000
Manchester
100,000
London City
75,000
Glasgow
47,000
Birmingham
44,300
Belfast City
28,000
Leeds Bradford
18,800
Aberdeen
16,150
Luton
14,300
Edinburgh
13,800
Gatwick
13,500
East Midlands
12,000
Stansted
8,700
Southampton
5,600
* The 55Lden contour is required to be used by the European Commission when drawing up Noise Action Plans. It is similar to the 54LAeq contour but covers night as well as day. Of course there are people impacted beyond this contour but this is the one comparable figure we have for all the airports. We have only included airports where there are more than 5,000 people within the 55Lden contour.
For more information: John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957382650
for immediate use: 24/1/19
Campaign group HACAN East welcomed the call by the London Assembly for London City to abandon its concentrated flight paths.
The report into London airports (1) published yesterday, said: “London City Airport, and all airports, should provide predictable periods of respite for residents living under concentrated flight paths”.
The report also called on London City and Heathrow to work together to try to minmise the numbers of areas that are overflown by planes from both airports at the same time: “The review of flight paths should minimise and seek to eliminate the overlap between City and Heathrow flight paths.”
London City concentrated their flight paths in 2016. This resulted in a four-fold increase in the number of complaints received by the airport.
HACAN East chair John Stewart said, “The furore over the concentrated flight paths is not going away. This report from the London Assembly is yet another powerful indictment of London City’s decision to concentrate all its flights over certain communities. ”
HACAN East is calling on the airport to create multiple flight paths and to rotate them so no one community gets all the noise.
ENDS
1.The London Assembly report: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/aircraft_noise_final.pdf
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641; 07957385650
Embargoed until 08.00 on 8.1.19
East and South East London could be the big winners in the proposed changes to its flights paths Heathrow announced today. Many of these areas look set to enjoy a daily predicable period of respite from the noise for the first time.
John Stewart, chair of the campaign group HACAN, said, “The proof will be in what happens in practice and it is still some years away but it looks as if all-day flying could become a thing of the past for very many people. Heathrow are planning a near revolution in their flight paths. They plan to rotate their new flight paths in order to give people some relief from the noise.”
The proposals are part of a wide-ranging 12 week public consultation which Heathrow launched today (1). Under the proposals people in West London, who currently enjoy a half day’s break from the noise when planes switch runways at 3pm, will find that cut to one third of the day if a third runway is built. But all-day flying will become a thing of the past for many places as the principle of respite is extended to people living under departures routes and areas such as Windsor and South East London which at present do not get it (2).
The consultation also asks for views on night flights. One condition Parliament laid down when it gave Heathrow the go-ahead to work up proposals for a third runway is that the current 5 hour night break is extended to 6½ hours. Heathrow is asking for views on how this should be implemented.
Heathrow is also proposing to bring in 25,000 more flights a year before any new runway opens. The plan is called Independent Parallel Approaches (IPA). It would require the lifting of the 480,000 annual cap on flights which was imposed as a condition of Terminal 5.
Heathrow will only ask for these flights until the third runway is operational. They would only start once Heathrow’s detailed plans for a third runway had been approved – expected to be 2021. Heathrow aims to open a third runway in 2015 so it is likely IPA would be in place for about 4 years.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). Full Heathrow document: http://hacan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Heathrow-Airspace-and-Future-Operations-Consultation-document-Final-low-res.pdf
(2). See page 23 of the document
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
29/10/2018 for immediate use
Over 900,000 people live under London City Airport’s flight paths, according to a report released by the Civil Aviation Authority last week. The report, which backed the airport’s controversial decision to narrow and concentrate all its flight paths in 2016, detailed the numbers impacted by these flight paths.
Number of people overflown by arrivals:
Under 4,000ft 331,000
4,000 – 7,000ft 72,000
Total under 7,000ft 403,000
Number of people overflown by departures:
Under 4,000ft 416,300
4,000-7,000ft 115,100
Total under 7,000ft 531,400
There is a smaller number impacted by both arrivals and departures but the CAA has not done that calculation.
The overall numbers overflown before the flight paths were concentrated were significantly higher as planes were more dispersed across a wider area but each area had fewer flights than people under the concentrated flights are now experiencing.
John Stewart, chair of campaign group HACAN East, said, “These numbers are mind-boggling. London City flies over the equivalent of a city larger than Edinburgh or Amsterdam. And many of these people are hurting badly because all the planes from the airport are directed over their communities.”
Stewart added, “The airport will point to the fact that the overall numbers overflown are down since it concentrated its flight paths but that is beside the point. The misery of those overflown has increased as they have been forced into a noise ghetto. Many of them have flights well uuder 3,000ft because City aircraft need to fly below the Heathrow flight paths.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). The CAA report:
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP1692C_ModuleC_FinalV3(P_LINKS).pdf
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
23/10/18 for immediate use
Local residents reacted with fury to the report (1) published today by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which backed the controversial changes London City Airport made to its flight paths two years ago. In 2016 the airport narrowed all its flights paths. It resulted in a fourfold increase in complaints as people under these new concentrated flight paths experienced many more planes than before.
Today’s report from the CAA assesses the changes that were made. It has recommended that the concentrated flight paths remain in place.
The report did ask London City to look into why the fuel and CO2 savings from the new flight paths were less than predicted. It asked the airport to explain why the aircraft were flying slightly off the predicted routes. But the CAA felt the variations were negligible as far as noise was concerned and backed the new concentrated routes.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, the campaign body which gives a voice to residents experiencing the noise, said, “There is anger and despair that the CAA has backed the concentrated flight paths. Many people hoped that today’s report would end two years of misery and they would be able to get their lives back. This decision is a cruel blow for them.”
Stewart added, “This will not be the end of the matter. We had support from a wide range of politicians in calling for an end to concentration. These included the Mayor of London, leading members of the Greater London Authority and lots of local councillors. We will be liaising with them about next steps.”
The flight paths were concentrated in 2016 after minimal consultation. Subsequently the CAA introduced more rigorous consultation procedures but they came in too late for the London City changes.
Over the next few years flight paths will be altered at most of the UK’s airports. The changes are driven by new technology. Ground-based technology is being replaced by satellite systems to guide aircraft as they land and depart. It means that planes can be steered along more precise flight paths, saving fuel, cutting climate emissions and reducing delays at airports.
This results in more concentrated flight paths but it also allows the airport more scope to create a number of concentrated flight paths which could be rotated to give residents some respite from the noise. This is what residents have been calling for.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
(1). CAA report: http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP1692C_ModuleC_FinalV3(P_LINKS).pdf .
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
4/9/18 for immediate use
HEATHROW REMAINS IN A NOISE LEAGUE OF ITS OWN
London City the fastest riser
Heathrow remains in a noise league of its own, according to figures unearthed by campaign group HACAN. 725,000 people are impacted by noise from Heathrow flights, over seven times as many as second-placed Manchester. But compared with the 2006 figures London City is the fastest riser. The population impacted by East London's airport have more than doubled. This is thought to be down to the number of new homes being built in the area. All the figures are take from official reports produced by the airports.
HACAN chair John Stewart said, "These updated figures confirm just how many more people are impacted by noise from Heathrow than by any other airport in the country. It puts a huge onus on Heathrow to find ways to lessen the noise burden whether or not a third runway is built. We will be pressing hard for a tough night flight regime, steeper angles as planes approach and depart the airport and a period of respite from the noise for everybody overflown."
Stewart added: "But the London City story is significant. It simple and stark. As more homes are built in the area, the number of people impacted is racing up the national league table."
The numbers are taken from the new action plans drawn up by the airports (except for Belfast City which has not yet published its new one). Every few years airports are required by the EU to produce plans to show how they will tackle noise. The airports' new plans must be submitted to DEFRA this autumn before they go to the European Commission for approval.
The European Commission mandates that the 55Lden contour is used when drawing up Noise Action Plans. In geographical terms it goes as far as Clapham in London. Last year the Government published a report it had commissioned from the Civial Aviation Authority which found that people can be annoyed by aircraft noise at lower levels.
ENDS
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
9/7/18 for immediate use
RESIDENTS PLEDGE TO FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL ANY EXPANSION OF LONDON CITY AIRPORT
Residents have said that they would fight ‘tooth and nail’ any plans to lift the cap on annual flights at London City Airport. Robert Sinclair, the new chief executive of the airport, told the Press Association in an interview that the airport is considering an application to raise limits on flights and passenger numbers.
London City is currently limited to 6.5 million passengers and 111,000 flights per year. Last year just under 5 million passengers and a little over 80,000 flights used the airport.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, the campaign group which gives a voice to residents’ under London City flight paths, said “Local residents would fight tooth and nail any attempt by London City to raise its limits on flights and passengers. Many of them feel their lives are already blighted by planes from the airport. The preservation of the current cap is the reddest of red lines for residents and I suspect for many local authorities.”
Stewart added, “It is difficult see the logic in what Sinclair is saying. Over the last two years flight numbers at London City have fallen. There has been a slight rise in passenger numbers due to the use of larger aircraft.”
London City has been primarily a business airport with over 60% of its custom made up of business travellers, the highest percentage by some distance of any UK airport. Robert Sinclair said in the interview that the airport now wanted to ‘reposition’ itself to attract more leisure passengers.”
ENDS
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
3/11/17 for immediate use
At last night’s People’s Question Time in Dagenham (1) there was cross-party support from London Assembly members to end the concentrated flight paths London City Airport introduced last year. Caroline Russell, who speaks for the Greens on transport at the London Assembly, joined Conservative Keith Prince, the chair of the assembly’s transport committee, the deputy chair Liberal Democrat Caroline Russell and Labour’s Len Duvall in opposition to the flight paths. The local MP Jon Cruddas also backed the call for them to go.
Since London City concentrated its flight paths in early 2016 complaints to the airport have increased fourfold. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently studying a report produced by the airport into the first year’s operation of the flight paths and is expected to make recommendations by the end of the year.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which campaigns against the concentrated flight paths, said, “The message from the politicians was clear. These flight paths must go. They must be replaced by a system where the noise is shared around more fairly.”
ENDS
For further information:
(1). This was one of a series of People’s Question Times which are held across London where Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, and London Assembly members answer questions from the public.
Embargoed until 26th October 2017
Campaigners from HACAN East will deliver a birthday cake to London City Airport on Tuesday 26th October at 11.30am to mark its 30th birthday. HACAN East, which gives a voice to residents under the airport’s flight paths, will present the cake to senior managers at Aviation House, London City’s headquarters just beside the airport (1).
The large cake will be in the shape of a plane. It will be presented to the airport by campaigners dressed up in white bakers’ outfits who will make the short walk from the airport to Aviation House to the sound of aircraft noise (2). Some of the ‘ingredients’ in the cake represent the campaigners’ key demands for the future:
No increase in noise and pollution – residents should get the benefits of the quieter and cleaner planes as they come on-stream
End concentrated flight paths – since London City concentrated its flight paths last year there has been more than an fourfold increase in complaints
No further expansion – the current cap on the number of flights permitted to use the airport each year should remain
John Stewart, the chair of HACAN East, said, “This is a fun event with a serious message. We recognise that the airport has brought jobs to the area but it has also caused noise and air pollution problems. As it goes into its next decade, we are looking for London City to submit no further expansion plans and to sort out its flight paths to get rid of the noise ghettos its concentrated flight paths have created.”
The first commercial flight used London City on 26th October 1987. Since then the airport has expanded significantly. Currently there is a cap of 110,000 on the number of flights permitted to use the airport each year. If London City wanted to expand further it would need to put in a new planning application. Last year the number of flights using the airport was around 83,000.
Last year the airport concentrated all its flight paths. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently studying a report into these concentrated flight paths and is expected to publish its response before the ends of this year.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
(1). City Aviation House Royal Docks London E16 2PB (across the car park from the airport)
Complaints to London City Airport have gone up by 550% since the introduction of the new concentrated flight paths. The figures were revealed in the airport’s 2016 Annual Performance Report, published yesterday (1). Last year there were nearly 400 complaints, up from 95 in 2015. In its report, London City admits the increase is down to the concentrated flight paths which were introduced in February 2016: “The spike in complaints, particularly from areas outside Newham, can likely be attributed to the implementation of Phase 1a of the London Airspace Management Plan (LAMP) which occurred at London City Airport from 4 February 2016.” LAMP was the plan which concentrated the flight paths.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East which gives a voice to residents under the flight paths, said “This dramatic jump in complaints comes as no surprise to us. It reflects what we have been hearing. It is essential that the airport reconsiders its decision to concentrate all its flight paths”.
The release of the complaint figures comes just a week after the London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for an end to the concentrated flight paths. In an answer to a question from Green London Assembly member Caroline Russell, he said, “It is clear that the concentrated flight paths introduced by London City Airport are not working. We will continue to raise the issue with London City Airport. We also continue to make the case to the CAA that there must be a fairer distribution of flight paths that will address the severe noise impacts.
At present the Civil Aviation Authority is assessing a report from London City into the operation of the concentrated flight paths. It is expected to make its recommendations in the next month or two.
(1). Link to the report: https://www.londoncityairport.com/content/pdf/LCY%20Annual%20Performance%20Report%202016%20AW.pdf
On Friday 28th July campaigners against London City Airport’s concentrated flight paths, introduced last year, will stage a colourful stunt outside the headquarters of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Kingway (1). The campaigners from HACAN East will highlight the impact the concentrated flight paths are having on local communities. The stunt is timed to coincide with a review the CAA is conducting into the operation of the flight paths.
Campaigners have won the backing of London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, in their bid to get rid of the concentrated flight paths. In written answer to a question from Green London Assembly member Caroline Russell, he said; “It is clear that the concentrated flight paths introduced by London City Airport are not working. We will continue to raise the issue with London City Airport. We also continue to make the case to the CAA that there must be a fairer distribution of flight paths that will address the severe noise impacts” (2).
Campaigners from a wide range of places affected by the flight path changes will each bring a cake with the name of their area indicated. A cake will also be presented to the CAA, along with a letter (3). Campaigners are calling on the CAA to require London City Airport to get rid of the practice of concentrating all its flights over certain areas and replace them with multiple routes, rotated, so that each community gets some relief from the noise. London City has seen a four-fold increase in complaints since the concentrated routes were introduced in February 2016.
HACAN East chair John Stewart, said “We welcome the Mayor’s remarks. Friday’s stunt is a fun action with a serious purpose. We want to get across to the CAA just how much grief has been caused by the concentrated flight paths. In effect, noise ghettos have been created.”
London City was required to submit a report on the first year of operation of the new flight paths to the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA is currently studying the report and is expected to come up with its recommendations in September.
ENDS
Notes for Editors and Photo Editors:
(1). The peaceful stunt will take place on 28th February at 4.15 on 57 - 63 Kingsway WC2B 6TE. A special ‘flight paths’ cake will be presented to the CAA. After visiting the CAA, the campaigners will head off for a picnic in nearby Lincoln Inn’s Fields.
(2). The text of the question and answer
London City Airport - noise complaints
Question No: 2017/2794
Caroline Russell
According to London City Airport's statistics, presented to its Consultative Committee, since City Airport introduced concentrated flight paths, noise complaints from residents have increased four-fold in 2016, compared with the previous year. Will you press London City Airport to review their concentrated flight paths and clarify the steps they are taking to guarantee communities a break from aviation noise?
Written response from the Mayor
It is clear that the concentrated flight paths introduced by London City Airport are not working. Valerie Shawcross, my Deputy Mayor for Transport, met with London City Airport to raise these concerns with the Airport directly and press them on steps they can take. As part of the statutory airspace process, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is scheduled to undertake a review of the changes this year. We will continue to raise the issue with London City Airport. We also continue to make the case to the CAA that there must be a fairer distribution of flightpaths that will address the severe noise impacts.
Local residents group HACAN East dismissed a new “community pledge” for the London Borough of Waltham Forest as both “desperate and irrelevant.” The plan, launched by London City Airport on Thursday, highlights a “five-point community pledge” for residents of Waltham Forest. The plan offers nothing specific for the borough
Read MorePRESS RELEASE
3 February 2016
For Immediate Release
From tomorrow (4 February) City Airport will be concentrating flight paths over hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and workplaces across East and south-east London.
The flight paths change will affect many communities across East and south-east London, including:
East London, affected by City aircraft when the wind blows to the west:
Bow, Leyton, Leytonstone, Wanstead, Redbridge, Barkingside, Collier Row, Harold Hill
East London, affected by City aircraft when the wind blows to the east:
Barking Riverside, Dagenham, Elm Park, Hornchurch
South-East London, affected by City aircraft when the wind blows to the east and Heathrow when the wind blows to the west:
Bexley, Sidcup, Mottingham, New Eltham, Catford, Dulwich Village, Herne Hill, Brixton, Stockwell, Vauxhall
Many in these communities will not have heard about these changes. Many parts of south-east London will now be overflown 100% of the time, as Heathrow aircraft fly over these areas on days when the wind blows to the west.
HACAN East Chair John Stewart said: "City Airport have completely failed to inform the vast majority of residents, who will notice a significant change in their daily lives. In many communities, a "noise ghetto" will simply be the most appropriate description for what is about to happen"
HACAN East is in discussion with lawyers about mounting a Judicial Review. We will make this decision in coming weeks.
City Airport announced its intention to concentrate flight paths in September 2014. The consultation document was buried deep on its website.
HACAN East was left to hold its own meetings in Leytonstone and Wanstead during the Consultation period. (2) These meetings were attended by hundreds of outraged residents.
Ends.
Notes
(1) Full information about the changes to the flight paths
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Module%20B%20final.pdf (page 26 indistinct map for South London and p27 for Thamesmead).
http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/B05-LCAL_A_ConsultationDocumentIssue1.0.pdf (page 24 for Dagenham and page 26 for Leyton and Leytonstone)
For more information:
Rob Barnstone, Campaign Co-Ordinator HACAN East - 07806 947050; robert.barnstone@outlook.com
John Stewart - 020 7737 6641; johnstewart2@btconnect.com
Press Release
19/5/15 for immediate use
London City Airport appeals to Secretary of State against Mayor’s refusal to grant permission to expand
London City Airport has announced that is has appealed to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government against the refusal by London Mayor to grant it planning permission to expand. The appeal is likely to be heard in about five months time.
Earlier this year Boris Johnson overturned Newham Council’s decision to grant the airport permission to create more taxiway space to allow bigger aircraft to use the airport. City was also given permission to double the size of its terminal and create more car parking spaces. But the Mayor turned it down because he believed that the airport was not prepared to give sufficient compensation to residents who would suffer noise.
The expansion plans had proved controversial, with a large number of objections coming from residents and a number of local authorities.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which helped co-ordinate much of the opposition, said, “It is not surprising London City has appealed because they are very keen to get the space to allow bigger planes to use the airport. But we hope the Secretary of State turns down the appeal and backs Boris who stood up for residents whose lives have become blighted by noise from the airport.”
ENDS
For further information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
6th April 2015 for immediate use
Official statistics underestimate the levels of aircraft noise in east and south east London, according to the campaign group HACAN East. Just a week after the London Mayor Boris Johnson refused London City permission to expand on the grounds of noise, HACAN East has complained that the noise from City Airport aircraft and those heading to Heathrow are measured separately and not added together.
John Stewart, who chairs HACAN East, said, “We need to get a figure for the total noise if we are to get a picture of the real noise levels experienced by residents. In the areas of east and south east London where people get planes from both London City and Heathrow noise levels will be a lot higher than official statistics show.”
A report published in 2007 (1) found that “in some areas of East London flown over by both Heathrow planes and City Airport noise levels were comparable to those in parts of West London”. Two years ago the Greater London Assembly called for joint readings to be taken.
Stewart concluded, “It is not rocket science to assess the cumulative noise. The suspicion remains that it suits the aviation industry not to paint the full picture.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1). http://hacan.org.uk/resources/reports/hacan.flight.paths.study.pdf
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, has refused London City Airport’s plan to expand on noise grounds. In a letter he has instructed Newham Council, who had approved the application, to refuse it. Newham’s decision was always dependent on the Mayor’s approval.
London City Airport wanted permission to build new taxiways to permit larger planes to use the airport. It also wanted more car parking spaces. The decision will be a bitter blow to the airport as it will now no longer be able to bring in the larger planes it wanted to serve new destinations.
John Stewart, chair of HACAN East, which campaigned against the expansion plans, said “The airport is paying the price for being so cavalier about noise. Quite simply, Boris did not believe its claims that it was dealing adequately with noise. We salute his decision”
ENDS
For more information:
John Stewart on 0207 737 6641 or 07957385650
