This is the captain speaking… from your back garden! Fury as holiday jets taxi near homes
THEY had hoped the only fumes in their well-kept suburban gardens would be from sausages sizzling on the barbecue.
But families in a seaside resort say their lives are being ruined by the smell of jet fuel and the constant noise from holiday flights.
The residents have lived in a cul- de- sac next to Southend Airport for years and had no problems until 16 months ago, when 50 planes a day began using a taxiway that was upgraded as a result of expansion plans.
Janet Marchant says she now has jets lining up 150ft from her back garden every 20 minutes from 6am to 11pm. The retired newsagent, 67, says the constant noise and fumes are making the lives of her and her neighbours a misery.
Miss Marchant, who has lived in her bungalow with partner Paul O’Callaghan for seven years, said: ‘You can’t have a conversation in the garden with anyone because you can’t hear them.
‘When we are inside with the door closed we have to pause the TV until the plane has gone past.
‘We worry about our grandchildren coming around and the enjoyment of having people over for barbecues is ruined.’
She is also worried about the effect on the value of her house.
The problem began in November 2017 when the airport renovated a hitherto little-used taxiway from which planes prepare to take off. One morning she opened the curtains and said to Mr O’Callaghan: ‘There’s a bloody great jet in our garden!’
Miss Marchant has complained repeatedly to the airport and on an online forum run by the Airport Consultative Committee.
She claims she recently received a letter telling her to stop posting complaints on the website.
Neighbour Alex and June Carr say they fear their health is being damaged. Mr Carr, an estate agent who has lived in the street for 28 years, said: ‘We can no longer enjoy the freedom of our garden.
‘On sunny days we have to go inside and it’s horrible to see a dirty great big aircraft at the end of the garden.
‘The noise can be horrendous, even when you are inside with the doors and windows shut, but it’s the smell that is really unacceptable. You can even taste it. We were never told about the revamp of that taxi route and there was no consultation.’
Mrs Carr said: ‘It’s detrimental to our health. I have five grandchildren and I don’t let them play in the garden any more.’
The airport handles some 1.4million passengers a year and is used by operators including EasyJet, Ryanair, Loganair and Flybe.
A spokesman said: ‘London Southend Airport is very proud of both its long heritage, having been an airport since 1914, and the important, positive role it plays in the community. We are currently engaging with those residents through quarterly meetings and are actively investigating active measures to reduce noise. We have recorded and investigated over 430 individual complaints and found that in every case the aircraft concerned was operating legitimately.’