Half of Heathrow Airport’s 25,000 noise complaints for the last three months of 2016 were made by 10 people
Heathrow Airport received over 100,000 noise complaints for the total of 2016, with 25,672 made in the last three months of the year and half of those submitted by 10 people.
From October to December, 10 people submitted 13,075 complaints between them, while five very persistent people complained more than 1,280 times in that period. Some 759 individuals complained once to the airport.
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According to official data, the airport received 101,025 complaints in 2016, though that was a decrease on the 2015 total of 108,225.
The airport, which was given the green light by government for expansion in October, reported Richmond had both the most complaints and the highest number of complainants out of any borough, with 7,967 complaints made by 377 people.
There were 2,222 complaints from Slough, though these came from 10 people.
Richmond was the borough that recorded the most complaints (Source: Heathrow)
Critics of the third runway have expressed concern that expansion will cause more complaints, with the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise (Hacan) saying the airport should vary flight paths.
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Hacan compiled an analysis of the most overflown boroughs in London based on 2015 and where available, 2016 statistics, with Hounslow, Richmond and Waltham Forest in the top three spots.
A spokesperson for Heathrow said: “Heathrow’s plans for expansion will ensure fewer people impacted by aircraft noise, offer more predictable respite than we can now, and a world-class noise insulation scheme.
“Heathrow has consistently reduced the number of people impacted by aircraft noise, by incentivising airlines to bring their cleanest, quietest aircraft to the airport and driving forward changes in how they operate through measures like steeper approaches.”
The government’s draft national policy statement for the expansion noted measures Heathrow will need to comply with to get development consent, including working with airlines on domestic connectivity, providing sufficient support for communities affected by the expansion and putting in place measures to mitigate noise including a ban of six and a half hours on scheduled night flights.