Date line: 20 September 2021
CRISIS - WHAT CRISIS?
- In February the UN issued a RED ALERT for Climate Change.
- In August Gatwick announced that it intends to go ahead with its highly polluting plans for growth. We think that this is highly irresponsible.
- Gatwick is seeking planning permission to convert its Standby Runway for regular use. This would increase its capacity to compare with Heathrow.
- If Gatwick’s ambitions are fulfilled, Tunbridge Wells will be overflown as never before. Not only would the number of flights overflying the town greatly increase, but they would be more constant throughout the day. This is dreadful news both for the residents and for businesses, especially those dependent on local tourism. There is no advantage in this for the town and the Borough passed a motion on 6th October unanimously opposing Gatwick's expansion plans.
Parliament has declared a Climate Emergency, a lead followed by the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Gatwick’s plans are completely incompatible with this declaration.
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TWAANG AGM on 3rd November
TWAANG has given notice that the next Annual General Meeting is to be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday 3rd November
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Online by Zoom.
The main business will be:
Chair’s and Treasurer’s Annual Reports
Election of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members
Discussion on any other motions.
Date: Wednesday 3rd November
Time: 7:00pm
Place: Online by Zoom.
The main business will be:
Chair’s and Treasurer’s Annual Reports
Election of Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Committee members
Discussion on any other motions.
The way forward for TWAANG is a cause for concern. Both the Chair and Secretary wish to step down for reasons of age and health having served for a number of years, but at present there are no candidates to succeed them. This will be the most important immediate issue for the meeting.
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NEWS FROM OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS
Gatwick’s is launching a Planning Application for the development of its Standby (Northern) Runway, and at present is conducting a public consultation, inviting response to a questionnaire where you can comment on its plans (closing date 1st December).
Fellow Community Groups are carrying out detailed investigations into Gatwick’s plans and claims. For links to their Web sites which provide a growing amount of important information, click HERE or on the NOT ALONE tab, above. There is also a link to Gatwick's proposals and response form.
Fellow Community Groups are carrying out detailed investigations into Gatwick’s plans and claims. For links to their Web sites which provide a growing amount of important information, click HERE or on the NOT ALONE tab, above. There is also a link to Gatwick's proposals and response form.
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EARLIER NEWS ITEMS
NEWS FROM GATWICK’S NOISE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Borough now represented at the NMB
We are very grateful to Councillor Alan McDermott for joining the NMB Community Forum as Tunbridge Wells Borough’s representative. He will be in a position to help develop Gatwick’s policies and, as an elected member, ensure that the Borough’s interests are fully represented. We look forward to working with Councillor McDermott.
The NMB has been developing its Work Plan. Our comments can be seen by clicking HERE or on the NMB tab, above.
We are very grateful to Councillor Alan McDermott for joining the NMB Community Forum as Tunbridge Wells Borough’s representative. He will be in a position to help develop Gatwick’s policies and, as an elected member, ensure that the Borough’s interests are fully represented. We look forward to working with Councillor McDermott.
The NMB has been developing its Work Plan. Our comments can be seen by clicking HERE or on the NMB tab, above.
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THE FUTURE OF AVIATION
GATWICK’S AMBITIONS
Gatwick continues to be ambitious to implement its published 2019 Master Plan (downloadable from the NEWS tab). This involves more intensive use of their existing main runways and developing the present Standby runway for regular use, with a substantial increase in activity. Community Noise Groups, including TWAANG, have serious reservations. Click HERE or on the COMMENT tab above for more information about this.
Gatwick continues to be ambitious to implement its published 2019 Master Plan (downloadable from the NEWS tab). This involves more intensive use of their existing main runways and developing the present Standby runway for regular use, with a substantial increase in activity. Community Noise Groups, including TWAANG, have serious reservations. Click HERE or on the COMMENT tab above for more information about this.
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SUSTAINABLE AVIATION?
The aviation industry is making strenuous efforts to make flying more sustainable, trying to lessen carbon and other pollutant emissions and reduce noise. But what can they achieve and what are the realities? Click HERE or on the FACTS tab above to see our comments.
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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 are 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.
