Re: Mr Knightley’s letter regarding Southend Airport. Could the gentleman inform us all which website he got his info from regarding the freight flights every 15 minutes, as I for one would like to see what else it contains. *
Southend, by definition, is a regional airport. In size terms it would fit into a corner of either Heathrow or Gatwick. So there is no way a plane with either freight, passengers or both could be dealt with as the infrastructure could not cope. **
Yes, aircraft are noisy, but nowhere near as noisy as 20 years ago. Once the plane has taken off that is. *** The real noise problems is car noise, 24 hours a day, ,seven days a week. Plus pupils being taken to school by car when they could easily walk. That with the blaring car radios. Another nuisance.
Brian Fry’s query re residents moving in then moaning is quite correct. **** I fully accept that people will have differing views on this subject. But I hate having to go to Heathrow or Gatwick, trying to use the motorways when I could and should be allowed to fly from my local airport. *****
After all, it was possible from the early days until the early 1980s.
Colin Paynter, Connaught
Gardens, Shoeburyness.
* Mr Knightley didn’t refer to any websites in his letter, so we take this to be an oblique reference to our website. However, we provide evidence that flights are likely to be more frequent than every 15 minutes at peak times.
** Mr Paynter seems to be unaware that this is exactly what Stobart propose.
*** We invite Mr Paynter to watch Stobart’s video showing the 90dB noise contour for three jets using the runway at Southend airport.
**** Apart from being totally wrong. See June Carr’s response on this issue.
***** Now we come down to it – a selfish expectation of a right to fly, overriding the right of others to enjoy a life uninterrupted by constant aircraft noise.