High Court fight over Heathrow night flights
A legal challenge was launched today against plans to increase Heathrow night flights.
Richmond and Wandsworth have joined forces to launch the fight against the government move which they claim will mean "an environmental nightmare" for thousands of people.
Richmond council meets today to sanction the High Court move. Officials claim there are "flaws" in the Department for Transport's consultation paper.
The two councils say they have evidence from government research that some planes - 747s with Rolls-Royce engines - produce far more noise than the DfT's rating.
There is growing anger among those living near Heathrow over the latest proposals, which will see a substantial rise in flights arriving or departing between 11.30pm and 6am. The Government is revising regulations and admits numbers could rise from next October.
Tony Arbour, Richmond's Tory leader, said: "The lives of thousands of people here and throughout south-west London are ruined by aircraft noise. They should not have to suffer being woken at 4am by planes roaring overhead.
"Reported changes to existing regulations mean the current levels of night flights could be trebled."
He added: "We are proposing to mount a legal challenge to try to stop the noisiest night flights and to call for flaws in the consultation paper to be reviewed. We are calling for support from other local authorities who also have to suffer this unrelenting blight."
Critics say the moves are purely in the interests of maximising profits for the major airlines, which want to operate 24 hours a day. Edward Lister, Wandsworth council leader, said he was " inundated" with calls from residents.
The DfT says the number of night flights - currently limited to an average of 16 - is less important than the noise generated. It says modern jets are becoming quieter.
But John Stewart , chairman of campaign group Clearskies, said: "Medical research shows night flights damage people's health because they cannot get a good night's sleep."
