Curb aircraft noise, says MEP

By Sinead Holland

A NEW call to curb aircraft noise at Stansted was made today (Friday, October 3) by MEP Richard Howitt.

The Labour member for Herts and Essex asked for action at BAA's annual seminar into the problem, held at Duxford's Imperial War Museum.

He presented the finding of a European report and asked the authority to back tighter restrictions against the worst offenders - noisier, older aircraft known as "minus 5".

He gave evidence that these have already been banned at two European airports and restricted at four others.

Labour's Richard Howitt MEP said: "Despite noise restrictions at European airports agreed in the European Parliament now six years ago, this new report shows that more people are being harmed by airport noise and this situation is set to worsen in future years.

"A consultation is now under way to determine Britain's position on whether to tighten limits against older, nosier aircraft and I hope that the British Airports Authority running Stansted will give their full support to these tougher environmental measures."