Following a public meeting on Monday with over 1,000 constituents and representatives from Heathrow Airports Ltd, Adam Afriyie the MP for Windsor has called the early end to flight trials a “triumph of people power.”

Heathrow Airports Ltd has already agreed to end its trials early in November. At the meeting, Mark Swan of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) raised the possibility of bringing the trials to an even earlier end. He also committed Heathrow to releasing all their data openly on their website so that residents would know the outcome of the trials.

Adam Afriyie commented:

“In our decade-long fight against aircraft noise increasing and spreading wider and further afield from Heathrow, this is another victory for active councillors and residents

“We are used to hearing aircraft noise when we live in houses under the existing flight paths, like my own home in Old Windsor, but it is completely unacceptable to have sudden changes that increase noise disturbance without proper consultation and warning. It’s all too easy to remain silent when confronted with new threats but it is the active reporting of noise disturbance, petition signing and letter writing that has got the message through to Heathrow: enough is enough

“I’m also glad to see the CAA are taking the views of residents seriously and are keen for Heathrow to truncate the trials further if possible, publish the trial results and be open with local communities

“Others wanted to join our local meeting and special thanks goes to my colleague Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, who is keen that the voices of his constituents are also heard in the debate

“It is ultimately people pressure from an alliance of local councillors, residents, and MPs that has tipped the balance and this bodes well for future campaigning

“The thank you list is endless but my special thanks goes to Councillors David Hilton for coordinating and leading the charge in Ascot, John Story for his work on the Council and to George Bathurst for his excellent presentation on the night. If you see your local councillor then please thank them for what they’ve been doing to defend their residents.

“Aircraft noise affects almost every area of our constituency including my own area in Old Windsor, and we must not forget that the flight path trials have had a disturbing affect across the whole constituency, from Colnbrook, Datchet and Wraysbury right across to Warfield and Binfield and everywhere else in between.

Together with local residents from all areas of the constituency, we must remain united to continue the decade-long fight against extra noise from Heathrow, our welcome but noisy neighbour.”

Contact:

§  Telephone: 020 7219 8023

§  Email: adam.afriyie.mp@parliament.uk

Notes to Editors:

1.    Mr Afriyie’s website: http://www.adamafriyie.org/