A quiet life
PEOPLE LIVING AROUND HEATHROW SAY THEY HAVE ENJOYED THE DECREASE IN FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF AIRPORT
AS the coronavirus lockdown continues to have an impact on the number of flights at Europe’s busiest airport, people living nearby have been enjoying a good night’s sleep.
West Londoners living under the flight paths at Heathrow Airport and surrounding areas have been enjoying the significant decrease in the number of flights taking off and landing at the airport.
In May 2019 there were 41,577 air transport movements, meaning take off and landings, at the hub airport.
This year, during the lockdown, that figure fell to 6,355 in May, with a significant proportion of those being cargo planes.
Passenger numbers were down 97% on the previous year.
While travel to Europe is starting to resume, mainly on budget airlines such as Ryanair, which does not fly from Heathrow, long haul travel still has an uncertain future.
A survey of 3,500 residents by campaign group No 3rd Runway Coalition found four in five people living near the airport were enjoying the experience of fewer flights.
More than half of all respondents also found their sleep had improved during the period, while just under half said the reduction in flights was noticeable all day long.
Of the 80% that felt the change was positive, 82% said they had experienced health benefits.
Other residents said they had felt more comfortable making use of their gardens and local green spaces.
Campaigners say that the findings from this unprecedented period of low flight numbers highlight the negative impact flights have on the Londoners living around the airport. David Simmonds, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heathrow and Regional Airports and MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, said: “I welcome the research undertaken by the No 3rd Runway Coalition. “It is apparent from the survey results that residents under these flight paths have been considerably affected by overhead flights. “The travel industry has been transformed by Covid19, and the country’s long-term air travel needs are as yet unknown. “We do know that many of us, including my constituents, are spending a great deal more time at home enjoying the outdoors wherever possible.
“This research confirms that an increase in overhead flights will greatly disrupt residents’ enjoyment of their homes and local outdoor spaces.
“In this new world we live in, that eventuality is both undesirable and unnecessary.”
Dr. Anna Hansell, professor in environmental epidemiology at the University of Leicester, said: “Lockdown resulted in a remarkable natural experiment, giving an unprecedented reduction in transport levels.
“While there has been a lot of media attention to the drop in air pollution during lockdown, there was also a large reduction in transport noise.
“However, as with any survey, it’s important to know about how the respondents came to take part.
“For example, people who feel more strongly about transport noise may have been more likely to take part.”
We do know that many of us...are spending a great deal more time at home enjoying the outdoors wherever possible.