Comment

Representation ID: 9231

Received: 08/04/2009

Respondent: CPREssex

1.3 Noise

The POR has nothing material to say about noise. It makes no reference to previous acknowledgements in the IOR and other documents that there would be more noise both from increased surface transport (unless fully mitigated by a modal shift to public transport) and from increased air transport movements (ATMs).

Yet noise is perhaps the most abhorred side effect of aviation. Over the longer term development may well lead to quieter aircraft. But this gain would be drowned out by an increase from 863 Air Transport Movements (ATMs) in 2008 to at an estimated 25,000 ATMs (assuming average aircraft occupancy increased from 49 in 2008 to 80 at the 2million passengers per annum (mppa) throughput level.

According to local opinion, a sizeable portion of Western Southend could be affected by noise from the increased numbers of flights. The greatly increased flights would be heard and seen over most of the town, and a large part of Westcliff, Leigh and Eastwood would no longer be able to enjoy a the quiet of their back garden on a weekend afternoon. There are also concerns about the several local schools that would be close to the flight paths.

Without projected noise contour maps no specific assessments can be made. But it does not take much imagination to realise the impact on the quality of life of local residents and the potential loss of tranquillity in the surrounding countryside to the north and east of Southend.