No to night flights

4.54.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 15th Aug 2005

Cllr Serge Lourie, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Richmond Council has called on residents to make their voices heard in the Government's consultation on the proposed increase in night flights.

He has supported the views of local MPs Susan Kramer and Vincent Cable in urging local people to respond to the consultation before the deadline of 16 September.

Speaking at a meeting in York House, Cllr Lourie said:

" I believe that night flights should no longer be tolerated. Over the years the quality of life of local residents has got worse because of this scourge. It is quite possible operationally for there to be no more night flights. It is only the greed of the airlines that requires them to continue. I call for no more flights in and out of Heathrow from 11.00 PM to 7.00 AM except in emergencies."

Note for editors

This press release should be read in conjunction with Council press release 218/05 of 12/08/05 "Make yourself heard" plea over increased night flights

To stimulate responses to the Government consultation - deadline is September 16 - the Council has organised a public meeting and launched an online survey to gauge residents' views.

The public meeting has been arranged in collaboration with umbrella group HACAN (The Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise).

It will be held at York House, Twickenham, on September 5, starting 7pm.

Check out a copy of the consultation in your local library. Copies are also available from the Department for Transport, call 020 7944 5796.

To register your views write to: Department for Transport, Aviation Environmental Division 4, Zone 1/34, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR, or e-mail responses to nr-stagetwo@dft.gsi.gov.uk

To take part in the Council's online survey on aircraft noise log onto www.richmond.gov.uk/night_flights_questionnaire

If you do not have access to the Internet, you can obtain copies of the survey from local libraries or by calling 020 8891 7729.

The responses will be used by the Council in mounting its official response to the consultation.