Fresh call for ban on night-flights

5.45.14pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 20th Apr 2007

Richmond Council today issued a fresh plea for a ban on night-flights following an announcement by the British Airports Authority (BAA) that residents living under the Heathrow flight path can expect more early morning flights next week.

Temporarily, a number of flights that are normally scheduled after 6am will be brought forward from April 21. Residents are likely to notice the extra noise from 5am. BAA say the changes will last for "a few days." Richmond has long pressed for all night flights to be outlawed and today's news was greeted with dismay by the Council.

Speaking on behalf of the 2M Group of local authorities fighting airport expansion, Richmond Council Leader, Cllr Serge Lourie, said:

"Although BAA say these are temporary alterations, they will undoubtedly cause more noise and disturbance for our residents while they are in operation. The flights will be coming in at a time of year when many people will have their windows open so the noise nuisance will be even greater. We will be concerned if the disruption continues beyond the few days promised, and we will keep a close watch on the situation. Our ultimate aim remains a total ban on night-flights and we will keep up the pressure to try and achieve this goal."