The London Assembly today sent a clear message that they are totally opposed to any attempt to allow night flights during the 2012 Olympic Games or at any other time.
A unanimously agreed motion urged Mayor Boris Johnson to write jointly with the Chair of the London Assembly to the Secretary of State for Transport and his relevant counterparts in the opposition parties to express their concerns.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, who amended the motion, said: "Many more Londoners than you might expect are affected by night flights. For example recent research from HACAN suggests that half of the top 12 boroughs affected by night noise are in east or south London.
“If night flights are allowed for the Olympics, it could set the precedent for the future. This motion sends a clear message that the London Assembly is against the derestriction of night flights and relaxation of noise controls.”
The full text of the motion reads as follows:
The Assembly notes with great concern that the Civil Aviation Authority Olympic and Paralympic Steering Group are considering the derestriction of night flights and relaxation of noise controls for aircraft during the 2012 Olympics. The Assembly believes it is unacceptable to impose further noise pollution from aviation on Londoners, particularly at night. We are especially concerned that any increase in flights during the summer of 2012 will adversely impact the majority of Londoners who either live near an airport or are affected by the flight paths and circling of planes across the capital.
The Assembly therefore requests the Mayor to write jointly with the Chair of the London Assembly to the Secretary of State for Transport and his opposite numbers in the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties expressing total opposition to any attempts to ease restrictions on night flights or noise limits at any London airports either for the 2012 Olympics or at any other time, and to publish the responses on the GLA website.