At home with some high-flying neighbours
“THAT plane is taxiing ready for takeoff ” says Sue Holland, who has become a bit of an aircraft expert since living next to the main runway of Cardiff Airport; it literally runs adjacent to her home.
Sue might not know it, but her aircraft and airport knowledge is impressive to anyone visiting her Rhoose home and experiencing for the first time the planes taking off and landing next door.
After living at her dream home for seven years with husband Ron, Sue can tell the difference between a small propeller plane, a private jet and a 747; but only if she really concentrates.
Sue says: “Because I don’t hear the planes at all! It’s very easy to get used to them, they’re not very frequent.”
Sue and Ron vaguely knew of the five-bedroom house before they bought it; Sue had even visited the former owner, so when it came on the market the couple were keen to view it.
“We’ve always actually liked this particular house and we just thought we’d come and look and we loved it. We didn’t really think much about being next to the airport; it wasn’t a massive thing for us.
“We were captivated by the home, the size of the property, and the view and I like the old thatched look, it’s very different.
“But I think mainly it was the beautiful location that gives us this stunning view at the back. As soon as we came out into the garden we thought ‘wow what a view!’ like most people do.”
A few people did query the couple’s choice of new home but when they actually visited they were surprised how little plane noise they noticed.
Sue says: “Some of the planes that use the airport are the bigger ones, they go to the British Airways hangar but actually the big ones aren’t as noisy as the small ones.
“The British Airways ones are huge and they look amazing. They are fascinating to watch because the smaller ones you can only see the top of the wing and the top of the plane but the big ones you can see all the windows and the wings, it really is fascinating.
“You can hear the big ones for a few seconds and then they’re gone.”
In fact the location next to the airport is something that has provided a source of interest over the years, not only for the couple but also for their visitors, such as the day the couple were shocked to see a huge Airbus on the runway.
Sue says: “They closed the road to test out the new massive Airbus and we could see the wings overhanging the road. So I’m pretty sure that won’t be landing here anytime soon, the airport just isn’t big enough!”
The couple also enjoy watching air shows when they happen at the airport, including seeing the Red Arrows flying in.
One aspect of airport life the couple weren’t aware of and that caused some initial shock was the method used to clear the runway of birds.
Although infrequent, the first time it happened, they were both alarmed.
Sue says: “A guy shoots a gun up into the air and scares the birds off the runway and when the wind is blowing in a certain way it can be loud; probably louder than a plane.”
Sue and Ron, now both in their 60s, are planning to move to a smaller property but are still staying in the area, so not far away from the neighbour that they’ve come to love.
Sue says: “We will miss living here very much. For a new owner it’s very handy for the airport if you fly a lot.”
This advantage to living so close to Cardiff Airport is echoed by Sue and Ron’s neighbour.
Eleanor Croft, 18, lives next door with her family in a period thatched cottage that also has the runway opposite the home.
Eleanor says: “In August when we went to Turkey, we flew back into Cardiff and there weren’t enough taxis for the eight of us so instead we just walked around the corner. It’s literally a five-minute walk, it was as if we were walking from one terminal to another.”
The family have had the same initial reaction of shock at the home’s location from visitors that Sue and Ron have experienced.
Eleanor says: “When they visit they are actually shocked that they can’t really hear anything, they get used to it very quickly.
“People think it’s a big deal but it’s not. It’s definitely better than living next door to a train station.”
Someone who is definitely used to the activities of the airport is the neighbour on the other side of Sue and Ron’s house.
Gareth Jones, 80, has been living in his bungalow for more than 40 years and he wouldn’t change a thing.
Gareth says: “They start flying off at six o’clock in the morning so that’s a bit of a wake-up call if you’re not used to it; you don’t need an alarm, you know what time it is. I don’t mind, I’m totally used to it, it’s been like this for years.
“We knew the airport was next to us when we bought the house, we didn’t mind, it doesn’t bother us at all.
“It’s the little ones that go on the cross runway that you can hear the most, and it’s mainly the propellers you can hear.”
Sometimes Gareth notices a large number of cars parked at the top of the road and he then knows a special plane is due to take off or land.
He says: “It’s the aircraft enthusiasts, they’re exactly like trainspotters.
“In fact one guy came and knocked on the door and said if you ever decide to sell would I contact him as he was an aircraft enthusiast and he lived in Rhoose but he wanted to live much closer to the airport.”
■ The Stables is on the market with Brinson and Birts for £950,000, call 01446 771 777.