Articles and Speeches

Fighting for a Good Night's Sleep
28-Feb-05, Communication.

As a top floor resident in central Windsor, I often wake during the night with a single disturbing thought - Aircraft noise! If you live under a flight path, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. A single noisy aircraft can ruin a good night's sleep.

Overall noise levels have been falling over the decades, especially since the de-commissioning of Concorde. However, from the hundreds of people I've listened to and spoken with under flight paths, aircraft noise is still a major irritant.

Over the last 18 months I have been working hard to secure quieter skies for residents. Activities have included:
- Commissioning surveys to locate where the problem is felt most acutely
- Attending and contributing to public meetings on aircraft noise
- Joining and supporting HACAN Clearskies
- Consulting with local noise experts, pilots and engineers
- Writing to newspapers and - Corresponding with BAA and, most recently, listing 5 key demands

BAA have confirmed to me that it is the current Labour Government who are responsible for setting aircraft noise levels, and determining the number of night-flights allowed into Heathrow.

The perfect (but unobtainable) solution is silent and pollution-free aircraft. The long-term solution is quieter and more environmentally friendly aircraft. The short-term solution is fewer night-flights using only quieter aircraft.

I am determined to reduce aircraft noise over the Windsor constituency as part of an ongoing campaign. I hope you will join with me, the local council and HACAN Clearskies at key points to help make life better for residents.

I will continue to fight for a good night's sleep for all those affected, and I will be in touch again soon.