Date line: 25 February 2020
GATWICK'S NOISE MANAGEMENT BOARD IS RESTARTING
Gatwick have relaunched the Noise Management Board (NMB) using the structure recommended in the Review Report, and have appointed Chairs for the Executive and Communities Forum.
Following introductory sessions, the first active meeting, of the Communities Forum, is being held on Wednesday 26th February and TWAANG have accepted an invitation to attend. For more information, click HERE or on the NMB tab, above.
Following introductory sessions, the first active meeting, of the Communities Forum, is being held on Wednesday 26th February and TWAANG have accepted an invitation to attend. For more information, click HERE or on the NMB tab, above.
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WebTrak and Gatwick’s Noise Website
Gatwick’s Noise Website gives access to a considerable amount of information, the question for us is just how useful it is in telling us about Gatwick’s operations. We have reservations.
Click HERE or on the COMPLAIN tab above for our comments.
Click HERE or on the COMPLAIN tab above for our comments.
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Times Newspaper Article on Aircraft Noise
The Times of Monday 27 January contained a news item and Leading Article on the question of aircraft noise. To see the articles and our comment click HERE or on the NEWS tab, above.
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GATWICK'S BIG ENOUGH
Latest developments
The Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC) Community Noise Group held its AGM on 19th February, and a new Committee was appointed which is now ready to take the lead and carry the GBE Campaign forward in opposing Gatwick's Master Plan for expansion. TWAANG is one of the Community Noise Groups supporting the campaign.
We will let you know as the campaign develops.
We will let you know as the campaign develops.
The full Master Plan document is available under the NEWS tab.
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CHANGING MOOD ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
A change has been taking place recently in the public attitude to the Environment and Climate Change.
Sir David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion in particular have been very effective campaigners, they have both led and responded to a change in mood.
Declaration of a Climate Emergency by a number of governments and other jurisdictions worldwide, including the UK Government in May 2019 and Pope Francis in June 2019, gave emphasis to this change.
To see our further thoughts, click HERE or on the COMMENT tab, above.
Sir David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion in particular have been very effective campaigners, they have both led and responded to a change in mood.
Declaration of a Climate Emergency by a number of governments and other jurisdictions worldwide, including the UK Government in May 2019 and Pope Francis in June 2019, gave emphasis to this change.
To see our further thoughts, click HERE or on the COMMENT tab, above.
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FLIGHT SHAME
The Flight Shame (flygskam) movement originated in Sweden and has been spreading throughout Europe - the UK is the exception with its expansion plans for Heathrow and the ambitions of Gatwick and all its major airports. Sweden’s railways are reporting unprecedented growth while many airports saw a reduction in passenger numbers over a 7-month period.
Sweden is, of course, the home of Greta Thunberg.
Sweden is, of course, the home of Greta Thunberg.
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MONITORING GATWICK’S PROMISES, 2019 REPORT
We published the 2019 annual report ‘Monitoring Gatwick’s Promises’ by Ed Crutchley earlier.
There has since been an exchange of comments between Graham Lake, Secretary of the NMB, and Ed Crutchley, exchanging views about issues raised in the Report.
We now publish Graham's most recent comments.
To see the Report and comments click HERE or on the COMMENT tab, above
There has since been an exchange of comments between Graham Lake, Secretary of the NMB, and Ed Crutchley, exchanging views about issues raised in the Report.
We now publish Graham's most recent comments.
To see the Report and comments click HERE or on the COMMENT tab, above
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URGENT
Become a Supporter and help make our voice even louder and more effective.
Click HERE to find out how to do this.
And please don't forget to encourage your friends, too.
Click HERE to find out how to do this.
And please don't forget to encourage your friends, too.
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Some Questions and Answers
1. Who is TWAANG?
A growing Group of residents of the town of Tunbridge Wells who are working in partnership with other action groups to limit the noise and volume of aircraft flying over our airspace.
Contacts :
Dr Irene Fairbairn, Chair, at email: twaang00@gmail.com
2. What’s the problem?
Westerly arrivals flight paths to Gatwick were changed at the end of 2013 and now low flying airplanes (often at 4-4,500ft) fly over Tunbridge Wells day and night. This change was originally denied and no consultation with Tunbridge Wells residents took place. Government aviation policy is to avoid flight paths over densely populated areas where possible. Why is this policy not being implemented?
3. When
TWAANG was formed in the Autumn of 2015 to ensure that the town’s particular concerns could be added to the Independent Arrivals Review then being undertaken for Gatwick by Bo Redeborn and Graham Lake. The deadline for responses and submissions was 30 November 2015. Up until mid October 2015 there had been no residents' voice for the town of Tunbridge Wells to add to those of the surrounding villages, all of whom have been affected by the changed flight paths.
4. Why?
Tunbridge Wells is a town of 58,000 and will be expanding rapidly in the coming decade. It is at the heart of a conurbation with a current population of over 74,000. Since the change in flight paths Gatwick had received a 550% increase in complaints mostly from Tunbridge Wells.
The health and wellbeing of residents is at risk through jet fuel emissions and the effects of sleep deprivation and intrusive aircraft noise when awake.
An important characteristic of the town is the 300 acres of parks and commons, ‘countryside within a town’. Aircraft noise destroys the tranquility and purpose of these amenities. It may well begin to erode Tourism which contributes 30% to the town’s economy.
5. How
A growing Group of residents of the town of Tunbridge Wells who are working in partnership with other action groups to limit the noise and volume of aircraft flying over our airspace.
Contacts :
Dr Irene Fairbairn, Chair, at email: twaang00@gmail.com
2. What’s the problem?
Westerly arrivals flight paths to Gatwick were changed at the end of 2013 and now low flying airplanes (often at 4-4,500ft) fly over Tunbridge Wells day and night. This change was originally denied and no consultation with Tunbridge Wells residents took place. Government aviation policy is to avoid flight paths over densely populated areas where possible. Why is this policy not being implemented?
3. When
TWAANG was formed in the Autumn of 2015 to ensure that the town’s particular concerns could be added to the Independent Arrivals Review then being undertaken for Gatwick by Bo Redeborn and Graham Lake. The deadline for responses and submissions was 30 November 2015. Up until mid October 2015 there had been no residents' voice for the town of Tunbridge Wells to add to those of the surrounding villages, all of whom have been affected by the changed flight paths.
4. Why?
Tunbridge Wells is a town of 58,000 and will be expanding rapidly in the coming decade. It is at the heart of a conurbation with a current population of over 74,000. Since the change in flight paths Gatwick had received a 550% increase in complaints mostly from Tunbridge Wells.
The health and wellbeing of residents is at risk through jet fuel emissions and the effects of sleep deprivation and intrusive aircraft noise when awake.
An important characteristic of the town is the 300 acres of parks and commons, ‘countryside within a town’. Aircraft noise destroys the tranquility and purpose of these amenities. It may well begin to erode Tourism which contributes 30% to the town’s economy.
5. How
- Gaining support from local residents.
- Engagement via Gatwick's Noise Management Board with the implementation process of the Arrivals Review Report's recommendations for westerly arrivals into Gatwick.
- Lobbying local MP Greg Clark and local Councillors to stand up for Tunbridge Wells.
- Liaising with other pressure groups fighting the Gatwick flight paths and arguing for noise mitigation.
We have brought TWAANG's Aims and Objectives described here up to date with our Constitution:
SHORT TERM AIMS
UNTIL 2022 - post Arrivals Review recommendations
UNTIL 2022 - post Arrivals Review recommendations
- In essence, full and speedy implementation of the Arrivals Review recommendations.
- Wide Swathe with the earliest joining point at 8nm* on the ILS and emulating as closely as possible the pre-2013 flight path distribution.
- Continuous Descent Approaches from maximum height and at approximately 3 degrees, using a Low Power Low Drag (LPLD) configuration. This would result in additional height over the Tunbridge Wells conurbation and elsewhere.
- Early modification of all A320 series aircraft using Gatwick, including those of EasyJet and British Airways, to stop the whine.
- To support Tunbridge Wells representation at GATCOM and to represent Tunbridge Wells on the Noise Management Board.
- Reduction in numbers of night flights and implementation of the earliest joining point for night flights at 8nm (currently at 10nm).
LONGER TERM AIMS – Precision Based Navigation (PBN).
2022 ONWARDS
2022 ONWARDS
- Influence the design of flight paths to avoid the Tunbridge Wells conurbation including schools, hospitals and heritage sites. This is in line with current government aviation policy where it is recommended that flight paths should avoid densely populated areas wherever possible and minimise the number of people affected. It is also essential to ensure that the adverse environmental impact from airplanes, most particularly aircraft noise, it is given proper consideration.
- Maximum Height, 5* (high standard) Continuous Descent Approaches (CDAs) and the Arrivals Review recommendations with respect to stacking over water and timed arrivals etc.
- The number of night flights and the impact of these on the population of the Tunbridge Wells conurbation to be minimised.
