Miserable night flights must end

Night flights affect many thousands of people across many parts of Berkshire, Surrey and London.

There are major negative health implications of being disturbed by these flights, including to both physical and mental health.

We agree with World Health Organisation guidelines which strongly recommend that people get eight hours sleep per night. However, the current night flights regime for Heathrow, which has been in place for many years, does not allow for this vital break from noise.

Many residents are unable to get to sleep until well after midnight and are being awoken by planes scheduled to arrive from as early as 4.30am.

Early arrivals often mean this time is even earlier. I

n the immediate area around Heathrow, many residents are kept awake not only by departing and arriving aircraft but also from the noise created by ground operations generated by these night flights.

This is an unfair and destructive

approach, which must change.

In this consultation, we, along with many other organisations, are asking for night flights to be banned completely to allow for an eight-hour period where residents are not disturbed.

The health implications of being continually disturbed by night flights must be prioritised and were the Government to make such a shift it would be a real, tangible change for everyone affected.

It is important for people to make their views known to the Government. You can send them your views by emailing night.flights@dft.gov.uk.

If you would like to respond in more detail to the consultation, we have produced some guidance you may wish to use that can be viewed on the homepage of our website – www.stopheathrowexpansion.co.uk

The consultation closes on May 31. Such large numbers of people have put up with night flights for so long – it is time to give people back a good night’s sleep.