MP demands Government action in bid to ground noisy aircraft

PROBLEMS with noisy aircraft disturbing villagers living around Bristol International Airport have been highlighted in parliament.Weston MP John Penrose wants to see new limits set for the amount of noise aircraft can make whilst flying over North Somerset.He quizzed MP Derek Twigg, parliamentary undersecretary for transport, on whether limits are in place for maximum aircraft noise at airports other than the three major London ones.Mr Twigg said it was not Government practice to put maximum noise limits on airports other than Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.Mr Penrose wants the Government to create a limit for the maximum amount of noise which can be made at all airports. Currently, only average noise levels are monitored.The MP asked Mr Twigg whether there are plans to introduce such a measure.Mr Twigg said: "We will consider exercising similar powers at other airports if there is evidence a major noise problem is not being dealt with adequately through local controls."Otherwise, such limits are the responsibility of the airport operator."Speaking outside parliament, Mr Penrose said: "Earlier this year I received details from the airport in Bristol on noise levels in nearby residential areas. I was concerned to see aircraft noise at Congresbury from January 2004 to January 2005 averaged 59.6 decibels - and that's just the official measurements. "Government figures take an average, which means the actual level of noise when an aircraft is directly overhead could be much higher and the effect on local people much worse."As part of its development proposals, the airport has guaranteed there will be no increase in night flights and it will introduce penalties on airlines which use older and noisier aircraft."I'm worried that, even if there's less noise per flight, there will be more flights from bigger aircraft which will tilt the balance back the other way.