UK Report: Heathrow expansion should be ‘scrapped’ on noise concerns

Air traffic should not be allowed to increase at London’s Heathrow and City airports and plans for the addition of a third runway at the UK’s biggest hub should be scrapped, according to a new report on aircraft noise by politicians elected to represent London’s residents. In a report published Jan 23, the London Assembly Environment Committee said that concerns from local residents about aircraft noise had led it to conclude that “air traffic using Heathrow and City airports should not increase, and the proposed third runway at Heathrow should not go ahead.” The committee also expressed concern about Heathrow’s proposal to add up to 25,000 extra flights a year through more efficient use of its two existing runways, noting that this would result in changes to flight paths that would route aircraft over areas that had previously not been overflown. <br/>