THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EARS

It was with a degree of incredulity that heard on our local B.B.C. News programme that some wise acre has put together a committee(probably at the taxpayers expense) to look at the effect the noise of night flights at Heathrow Airport has upon the population living under the flight path.

Wonder of wonders,they concluded that the noise was causing a disturbance and that people had difficulty sleeping when huge aircraft roar over their rooftops in the middle of the night.

I am ,unfortunately one of those who are affected ,although by no means as badly as the poor souls living in the Hounslow area,but when I tell you that the residents of Richmond;a town much further away than us complain bitterly about the noise pollution you may tell for that how very bad the problem is.

There have been innumerable campaigns, petitions and lobbies to draw attention to the fact that the sleep and also the health of those living under the flight path has been compromised for years,it seems odd then that suddenly a “study” of the problem is deemed necessary.

Strangely the result was announced as if it had come as a complete surprise to those undertaking it. Suddenly, “Shock horror, all those poor people having their sleep disturbed.” Hmmmmm,it all seems a bit suspect if you ask me.

And that's just the point,why didn't they ask us? We would have gladly told them. In fact we have been telling them....for years!

Instead of spending a fortune on the survey why didn't someone just spend a few nights in Hounslow? It just doesn't add up! Unless that is there is an alternative motive for this sudden concern.

Mr Cameron promised that there would be no third runway at Heathrow and because of this his candidates were very successful in those areas most affected by the noise by day and by night.

Knowing how easy this coalition has found it to dance out of their pre election promises it came as no surprise when it was announced that there had been a change of heart over the runway after much lobbying from the city, and that the Government was reconsidering it's policy.

Call me suspicious but it seems to me that there may be some kind of play off being planned. No more night flights in return for a third runway. I have just one question. How long will the no more night flights promise last? In the face of pressure from the City I suspect not very long!