NOISE from Stansted aircraft could jeopardise the controversial move of two Bishop's Stortford secondary schools to a Green Belt site on the edge of town, it was claimed.Figures released to the Observer show that decibel levels at the site in Whittington Way, Thorley, are higher than legally allowed for the new schools to meet building regulations.
Bishop's Stortford High and Herts & Essex High plan to relocate to the shared 50-acre site by 2010 to help meet the shortage of school places in Stortford.
There is widespread opposition, with fears that the Green Belt will be vulnerable to further development and concern over traffic implications for the town.
Last week, local education authority Herts County Council added another brick to its support for the move by agreeing to co-sign an option agreement with the schools' governors for developer Countryside Properties to buy the current schools sites in London Road and Warwick Road for housing if the project goes through.
That prompted Richard Lavender, chairman of Thorley Parish Council, to divulge the results of a noise monitor from Stansted Airport operator BAA, which was placed opposite the intended new site.
"Herts County Council haven't got a clue about this and East Herts District Council probably don't know about it because it was Thorley Parish Council which requested the monitor," he said.
"We were waiting for the schools' planning application [expected late autumn] and then we were going to show the figures, but we think now is an ideal opportunity for us to put our cards on the table."
The mobile monitor measured 2005, and Mr Lavender said that the figures were probably higher now as airport traffic had increased.
On 14,694 occasions over the three months, aircraft generated peak noise ranging from 60 decibels (dB) to 79dB. That equated to more than 160 flights a day or one every four minutes, he said. The average noise value was 57dB.
Building regulations require noise levels must be no more than 55dB for school recreation areas or 50dB for an area used for outside instruction. In classrooms, with windows open, the legal limit is 35dB. Typical suburban areas have a level of 40dB.
Janet Rolph has been a resident of Thorley Street all her 70 years and lives near where the monitor was sited.
She said that aircraft noise was so bad, particularly in the summer, that she doubted whether pupils in the proposed new classrooms would be able to concentrate. She added: "I don't think it's quieter than it was two years ago."
She and husband Peter have to turn the TV volume right up if their patio doors or windows are open. "A plane going over does take the TV out."
A spokesman for Herts County Council said it was more of an issue for the two schools and EHDC, as the local planning authority, and added that the option agreement depended on certain criteria, including the "robustness" of the planning application.
Rodney Stock, chairman of governors of Bishop's Stortford High, said noise was one of the major issues its consultants had already considered and a full survey was being done.
"I don't think the noise levels will scupper the whole project," he said. "Our experts would not have allowed us to get this far if they weren't sure."
A spokeswoman for EHDC said its Local Plan showed the Thorley site as outside BAA's 57dB contour where noise levels would be unacceptable.