Forum Topic

Heathrow survey ?

We've just received a survey about the expansion of Heathrow, which is a much debated subject.  This "Important Survey"(so called) has been sent by the BACK HEATHROW campaign organisation. I would have preferred to receive a truly independant survey, rather than one fashioned by BACK HEATHROW.  How do people feel about the expansion of Heathrow as our major hub airport? Is the possible development and expansion a good thing for London?

Gerry Tan ● 4149d15 Comments

I don't know.Property values are affected by many things - including huge gobbets of irrational sentiment.I do know that our house, being smack against the Paddington mainline and having commercial premises adjacent to it on one side, is maybe much less attractive to many and as a result it has a value considerably below those on the other side of the line and a bit further up the hill but offering comparable accommodation.These factors no doubt had a considerable influence on us being able to afford it in the first place.The trains don't bother us at all (coming and going for the most part in an almost silent gentle five second long "whoosh" set down slightly in a cutting so they don't overlook us) and the fact that the commercial premises are closed for most of the weekend offers us much valued extra solitude.In fact, the combination of the railway and the commercial premises offers us a two thirds reduction in annoying lawn mower noise compared to most people.  :-)

Tony Colliver ● 4147d

OTOH, I very much figure that it is a part of what you are signing up for if you choose to live in London and cannot abide outbreaks of NIMBYism on this or any other subject.So, even thought they annoy me and even though the noise from them came as a surprise after we moved in having enjoyed almost complete aircraft silence in our previous abode in South Ealing (no, we didn't spot it during the viewings), I am not of the view that it is for a major infrastructure project to be stymied by my own petty irritations.It leaves me with a deep sense of bemusement and irritation that locals around my immediate neck of the woods seem to believe that now that they have moved into the area it is for them to start demanding changes in all manner of things to suit themselves and their individual personal agendas.  Did these people not notice that they were moving into a vibrant capital city with all that that entails?  if they wanted to live in a quiet rural backwater then they should have bought a house there in the first place!

Tony Colliver ● 4147d

Sorry about your noise problem TONY, does the aircraft noise affect the property values being "slap under the flight path"?

Gerry Tan ● 4147d

"Draw a straight line on the map..."yes, that's the line we live on - slap bang underneath the flight path.Sometimes I fancy I can count the rivets on the fuselage as the undercarriage barely clears our chimneys on route to wherever they are going.  (Okay, so I exaggerate for poetic effect.  :-) )They annoy me but they drive my otherwise very calm and reasonable wife to utter distraction on BBQ days in the summer.

Tony Colliver ● 4147d

Mine went straight in the bin - unopened.I personally probably don't mind if Heathrow expands (I would certainly prefer that than see it close and I speak as somebody who genuinely suffers with overflights on take off which those a mile further south in South Ealing where we used to live are lucky enough not to) but like others I resent being sent biased so called consultations - regardless of where they come from.

Tony Colliver ● 4147d

> Estate Agents inevitably wanting to protect their own position by shouting from the rooftops that aircraft noise affects house prices. Utter rubbish.Here's an academic study that reached the same conclusion as the estate agents' proposition:Aircraft Noise and Residential Property Valueshttp://www.bath.ac.uk/e-journals/jtep/pdf/Volume_XXV111_No_2_175-197.pdf

Dave Robertson ● 4147d

Definitely that is their intention. but hopefully there will be a lot of gatwick supporters in this one.

Peter Chadburn ● 4147d

House prices. Estate Agents inevitably wanting to protect their own position by shouting from the rooftops that aircraft noise affects house prices. Utter rubbish. Just look at the evidence of the inbound flight path. PutneyBarnesEast SheenMortlakeKewRichmondTwickenhamMany residents move to these desirable areas, for convenience since they will either use the airport for regular travel, or work there. House prices are still rock solid in these leafy parts of south west London.

Ben Owen ● 4147d

Disregarded as a 'spoilt' paper.And it just that, a paper exercise. "We have consulted, you asked us to do that and we did that, now let's just plough on regardless".

Nigel Brooks ● 4148d

Yes I have filled it in but question 2 is loaded. so you want heathrow to expand or get smaller. I added a box to say neither. I want it to remain the same size and same number of flights but be better.

Peter Chadburn ● 4148d

Ealing is worst affected when the wind is from the east and planes are taking off from the southern runway.Draw a straight line on the map, starting from where Windmill Lane passes under the M4 and finishing at the junction of Hillcrest Road and Hanger Lane.  That's the nominal route followed on those days by most flights heading for the Far East and Scandinavia. Planes don't always stick exactly to that line but, as Surrey residents have been recently finding out, modern navigation technology enables many of them to fly very accurately and so concentrate the noise over a specific area.> Is loud aircraft noise likely to affect house values?Yes, according to estate agents.http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/new-runway-at-heathrow-would-wipe-millions-off-house-prices-9002994.html

Dave Robertson ● 4148d

Which is the noisiest district in Ealing that suffers from aircraft flying to/from Heathrow?  Is loud aircraft noise likely to affect house values?

Gerry Tan ● 4148d

It may be farcical. However if it is completed by people who support an extra runway at Heathrow then it will be used as evidence. So complete with "care" must be the only option

Peter Chadburn ● 4149d

I have replied in favour of hub but advocating the extra runway should go to Gatwick. I do not favour the demolition of Harmondsworth village.

Graham Weeks ● 4149d

The survey is so loaded that there is no point in completing it. I do hope that people will see through this farcical 'consultation'.

Nigel Brooks ● 4149d