KRAMER RAISES PROBLEMS OF HELICOPTER NOISE

12.44.22pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Jan 2007

Local MP Susan Kramer has raised concerns in the Richmond and Kingston areas about the nuisance of helicopter noise. She welcome the government's undertaking to set up a proper system of complaints but wants Ministers to go further and work with the GLA to reduce this problem.

Speaking in the House of Commons she said:

"I sought this debate, because I received many complaints from local residents in my constituency about the noise of helicopters overhead.

To provide a flavour of those complaints, Mrs. Wisdom of Barnes said:

"I really do find it intolerable that very few helicopters, if any, keep to their designated route."

Mr. Keers of Barnes said:

"This year the noise from helicopters going to and fro from Battersea has become intolerable. To make matters worse the helicopters frequently seem to be in holding patterns over Barnes resulting in continuous and unbearable noise."

Susan Kramer said she had reports about helicopter noise in other areas.

"Apparently, there have been three complaints recently from Kingston and Surbiton about helicopter noise. What helicopters have been doing in that area, disturbing residents, is beyond me.

"It appears that existing bodies do not take responsibility for the environmental impact of helicopters that fly across our communities, and certainly not for the noise that they create.

"I very much welcome the investigation into these issues that was published by the Greater London authority last October, entitled "London in a spin-a review of helicopter noise". The Minister met members of the GLA and staff who produced it to try to begin to develop a response.

"We are delighted that she did so, and my role is to engage in a pincer movement, and keep up the pressure to secure action to deal with an increasing annoyance.

"I would love to tell MPS about the number of helicopter movements across London, but there is no comprehensive database that keeps count of such movements. Battersea heliport, which is the main heliport in London, has planning permission for 12,000 commercial movements a year, but police, air ambulance and military helicopter movements are not included. The GLA estimates that about 13,000 flights were made to and from Battersea heliport in 2006. There were 11,000 flights in 2003, so the trajectory is for a significant increase every year."