Neighbours: Airport ‘isnews louder than Heathrow’
BUT DIRECTOR SAYS: ‘IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, DON’T BUY SOMEWHERE NEAR IT’
You always get some who think it is noisy, but I don’t think they could have done their due diligence Brian Wells
I’ve recorded planes up to 106 decibels, and there can be one every 90 seconds
Matt Chadder, resident
LIFE in the shadow of Nottingham City Airport is too noisy for some residents.
But the company running it has hit back at them, saying the airport has been there longer than they have.
While some people living in Tollerton say they love having the airport on their doorstep, others say the noise makes it “unpleasant” to live near.
Ian Kershaw, who owns Tollerton Hall, said: “I know they’ve been there for a long time, but the hall is in one of the flight paths, and they do not have to fly so low.
“I’ve tried to talk to the airport, to ask for longer routes they could use over fields, but they say you shouldn’t have bought a house near the airport.
“It’s not a road up there. I don’t object to the planes at all – it’s the noise.
“It’s not pleasant, and it happens more frequently at weekends when you want to have a barbecue in the garden or be out because the weather is nice.
“Tension is mounting unnecessarily.
“I want to sit down with them to share reasonable requests from neighbours.
“We’ve all got to co-exist and it is possible to do this.
“But I’ve had to cancel filming days, for example, because of the planes.”
Matt Chadder, a business owner who lives in Tollerton, said: “We’re right under the flight path where we live, and we’ve been here for 10 years or so, and in Gamston for 15 years before that.
“When we moved in there weren’t many planes and it wasn’t a problem at all.
“But I’ve recorded how noisy some planes are, and I’ve recorded them up to 106 decibels, and there can be a run frequency of one every 90 seconds.
“It’s louder than Heathrow and it’s problematic, especially as I work from home.
“The world has changed with more people working from home, and I think people should be able to enjoy their own space.
“I’ve thought about moving because it’s so horrible, and it’s got worse of late.
“Some people feel helpless.”
But one of the directors of the company that runs the airport has hit back at the complaints about noise, saying that many families enjoyed watching planes take off and land there.
He also said that to those who didn’t like it: “Don’t buy somewhere near it”.
Brian Wells, a co-director of Truman Aviation, which operates the airport, says they have been told how supported the airport has been.
He added: “We’ve had councillors tell us how wonderful it’s been when families are down to watch the planes with their children. “There will always be a few complaints. You always get some who think it is noisy, but I don’t think they could have done their due diligence before moving into the area. “The weekends are when people are free from their jobs, and a large percentage of people that fly here go on to have a career in the industry. “We’ve pilots at East Midlands Airport who learned to fly here.
“We can’t give them times when planes are coming past because of flying conditions. “They’re the ones complaining, but we’ve been here since 1936. “Hundreds get enjoyment out of it in comparison with the complaints we get, and you can’t go and watch planes anywhere.
“If you don’t like it, don’t buy somewhere near it.”
Some residents in Tollerton, and nearby Gamston, say they do not mind the airport at all, and for some it makes it more interesting to live there.
Jill Bowbanks, 76, who lives on Chestnut Mews, said: “For us, it makes it a bit more interesting living here, especially when the grandkids come over.
“We’ve been here for about 15 years, and you get used to the noise. “We’re not bothered by it at all.” Alan Woodcock, 93, who lives on Tollerton Lane, said: “They get close to my chimneys from time to time, but you live with it. “I’ve been here for over 60 years.” George Walker, 39, who also lives on Chestnut Mews, said: “I bought the house here knowing it was near the airport.
“The planes do not bother me really.”