Further advice about local effects

South Luton, Slip End and Caddington

Our map below shows the proposed change to the departure route over south Luton and between Slip End and Caddington. It also shows the current and new SEL 90 dBA “noise footprints” of the noisiest aircraft operating from Luton, the Airbus A300 freighter, which often departs at night. This “footprint” is the area in which the Government accepts that sleep disturbance is likely among people who experience aircraft noise. Based on laboratory research on subjects who are not used to such noise, the World Health Organisation expects sleep disturbance at noise levels which are a quarter of this level.

The map also shows the SEL 90 dBA “noise footprint” which will be generated by the typical Ryanair aircraft, the Boeing 737-800. All of these “footprints” have been published by NATS as part of the consultation. We have not used the “footprint” for the aircraft most regularly flying at Luton as the NATS “footprint” for this is clearly incorrect as it does not correspond with the measurements which have been made by the Airport’s consultants and ourselves. We have written to NATS about this error.

The map shows clearly that the number of homes in south Luton subject to very high noise levels will increase hugely with the new route.

LADACAN is particularly concerned that NATS has failed to propose measures to mitigate the effects of this change of route such as limiting the times of operation, particularly at night. At London City Airport, where most of the aircraft are much quieter and where homes have been built in similar locations close to the the Airport, there are no flights at night or for 24 hours between Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes.

Your MP and Councillors wish to hear your views and urge you to respond to NATS in support of the “hybrid” route which would retain the existing left turn form the runway (see map) and avoid the worst of the overflying: Farley Ward - Councillor Robin Harris (651067), Councillor Sian Timoney (898866), Councillor Mahmood Hussain (417268); South Ward: Councillor Lynda Ireland (536862), Councillor Dave Taylor (513326), Councillor Michelle Kiansumba (529226).

Whitwell and Woodside

Residents of Whitwell and Woodside, as well as St Paul’s Walden, Slip End and Caddington can get some idea of the maximum noise levels which the departures overhead will generate from the noise monitor data published by the Airport operator. The graph below shows the data from 2007 with the measurements counted in 3 dBA bands. This shows that the majority of noise events will be in the 70 to 76 dBA range, well in excess of the level (65 dBA) required to interrupt normal conversation.

At locations a half mile away from the aircraft track, the noise levels will be about 4 dBA lower.

Stevenage

The easterly departures from Luton to northern Europe, about 11 per cent of the 60,000 annual total, which currently turn to the south of Stevenage will be re-routed over west and north Stevenage on an alignment which passes over the Lister Hospital. Easterly arrivals will continue to fly over the Town Centre as now. The map below shows the route and the expected swathe within which the aicraft are expected to fly.

North & mid-Harpenden

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, will be re-routed over Whitwell and Wheathampstead to pass between St Albans and Harpenden. Westerly departures to the east and south east will be routed away from west Harpenden to fly around the north of Luton. However, some older aircraft will continue to use the old routes.

South Harpenden

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, which currently fly from east to west over Harpenden will be concentrated to pass south of Harpenden so will remain audible. Westerly departures to the east and south east will be routed away from Harpenden to fly around the north of Luton. However, some older aircraft will continue to use the old routes.

Wheathampstead

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, which currently fly from east to west over Gustard Wood and Blackmore End, will be concentrated to pass over south Wheathampstead.

Villages in Royston area

The Hold over Royston is to be moved north to be centred on Little Gransden. You may wish to respond to the specific question in the consultation which asks whether arrivals should follow a single route between the Hold and the Airport or be spread over the whole area as now.

Welwyn and Welwyn Garden City

The departure routes from Luton over you are to be moved to the north of Stevenage.

Berkhamsted

Easterly departures to the south west will be moved further south from south of Tring to the northern fringes of Berkhamsted.

Little Gaddesden

Westerly departures to the south west will be moved further north over Little Gaddesden.
 

Old Knebworth

Easterly departures to the south west will turn earlier so will be further away. Those to the east and south east will be re-routed north of Stevenage.

Pepperstock and Flamstead

You will be among the few clear beneficiaries as westerly departures are to be fly straight from the runway to the M1, only then turning left. However, this may make you more aware of the increasing Heathrow traffic overhead at higher altitude.

Hitchin

The easterly route to the north will continue to fly over Hitchin. In addition, westerly departures to destinations in northern and eastern Europe will fly over Hitchin from west to east, probably at higher altitude than those north-bound flights. You will continue to be aware of westerly arrivals heading east to turn back over Stevenage.

Preston

Easterly departures to north and east Europe move from the current route south of Stevenage to one over the Lister Hospital. To follow this route, they will turn left earlier than the current departures and so pass closer to Preston. Pressure to avoid over-flying the large population in Stevenage may lead to this route being moved further north even closer to Preston. Westerly arrivals will continue as now.

Ley Green, Kings Walden, Bendish

Easterly departures will start to turn over Lilley Bottom which may cause slightly raised noise levels in Bendish, Ley Green and Kings Walden. Westerly arrivals will continue as now.

Nettleden

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, which currently fly from east to west over Harpenden will be concentrated to pass south of Harpenden and north of Hemel Hempstead.

Codicote

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, will be re-routed over Whitwell and fly over Codicote slightly lower than they are now so they may be noisier. Easterly departures to the south and east, about 10 per cent of departures, which currently fly over Knebworth are to be re-routed north of Stevenage so will cease to impact Codicote.

Gustard Wood, Blackmore End, Kimpton

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, will be re-routed over Whitwell and Wheathampstead to pass between St Albans and Harpenden.

Langley

Most easterly departures currently flying close to Langley will either be re-routed north of Stevenage or turn south earlier than now to fly over Whitwell. You should experience fewer noisy flights and many of those remaining will be more distant.

Redbourn

Westerly departures to the east and south east, about a quarter of all departures annually, will be routed away from Redbourn to fly around the north of Luton. The track for this route passes over Redbourn but most large aircraft actually fly further south over Hemel Hempstead.

The easterly departures to the south west, about 14 per cent of the 60,000 annual departures from Luton, will be re-routed over Whitwell and Wheathampstead to pass between Redbourn and Hemel Hempstead.

Barton

Westerly departures to the south and east will loop round north of Luton heading east. Although they will be fairly far south of Barton, you may be aware of them. The proposed fixed route for easterly arrivals passes just north of Barton so you may wish to respond to the specific question in the consultation which asks whether arrivals should follow a single route between the Hold and the Airport or be spread over the whole area as now.

Page archived 20 June 2008- no further updates

Luton & District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise - site updated 06 July, 2008