EVEN without a third runway, it is not just the 2m super-unfortunates in west London whose lives are seriously affected by aircraft noise (Focus and Comment, last week). I live roughly 20 miles due east of Heathrow, yet the noise can be so disturbing that I bought a decibel recorder to check how bad it really was.

Trying to enjoy a bit of gardening, I have quite often recorded more than 60 decibels from passing aircraft. It seems that the airport’s southeast “stack” is directly overhead and the whining scream that announces the noisiest planes occurs when they come out of the stack and begin their lineup right across London.

The government’s farcical “consultation” document makes it clear that the listening prime minister doesn’t wish to hear the voice of ordinary Londoners struggling to make themselves heard against the vested interests of BAA and British Airways, but he might do well to remember the votes he’ll need at the next election.

Brigid Gardner London SE21

BAD PLANNING: As someone who has been flying internationally for nearly 40 years I am amazed at the successive governments’ lack of foresight in not building a new airport to service London and the southeast. Originating in the north I found it much more relaxing to avoid Heathrow and Gatwick when possible and thank God for Schiphol (Amsterdam).

Last month I passed through the new Hong Kong airport, purpose-built off Lantau island, which has excellent access capabilities. It makes Heathrow and the UK look like a Third World country. But, as the British architect of the new Beijing airport said, it takes longer to get planning approval in Britain than it took the Chinese to build the airport.

Tom Cassidy Alicante, Spain

NICER AND CHEAPER:

Simon Jenkins states: “It would make sense to boost domestic tourism by discouraging foreign travel”. Plenty of things already discourage foreign travel: airport security queues, cramped aircraft, language barriers and so on. But overseas holidays are excellent value for money – British tourist destinations are overpriced (for instance Cornwall) and poor quality (eg Blackpool) by comparison. It’s far cheaper to spend a week in Spain or Turkey than a week in Cornwall or the Lake District, and far more enjoyable.

Andrew Montgomery Oxford

REGIONAL HUBS: Why has BA not developed flights out of Manchester and Birmingham? KLM operates out of nearly every UK airport, and the superb Schiphol makes it easy to transfer. Here in Cardiff our airport usage is stunted because of poor road and no rail connections – no funds available to fix the problem. Lastly, what is wrong with more flights out of Northolt? Or is that for VIPs and royalty?

Gwyn Davies Penarth, Cardiff

FREQUENT FLYERS: The environmental issue was dismissed when it is probably the most important factor. How can we be serious about reducing carbon emissions while advocating ever more flights? The government needs to take the lead and reduce demand (such as by taxation and no further expansion) and we, as consumers, must accept that we cannot fly as frequently as we might like.

John Whillans Twickenham, Middlesex

TERMINAL DECLINE: A brand new airport will cost tens of billions and won’t be ready for at least 20 years, by which time global air traffic will be in terminal decline. There will be 15%-20% less fossil jet fuel in 20 years, as resources run out.

Reduced fuel availability allied to only modest replacement with biofuels, and continued high demand, will put flying beyond the budget of ordinary travellers, as it was back in the 1970s. Expand capacity rapidly now, as the Chinese have done in Beijing, or don’t do it at all.

Dr Michael Smith Chief Executive, Energyfiles

PRICE PRESSURES: The government puts the cost of a new Thames Estuary airport at £33 billion, compared with £6.8 billion to £7.6 billion for a new runway at Heathrow. It is highly doubtful that such a level of investment would be commercially viable without considerable public subsidy. To suggest that it could be constructed for less than the cost of the Olympics is a triumph of hope over reality.

You recognise that “for a new airport in the east to succeed would probably require the closure or severe restriction of Heathrow”. This leaves some tough questions – not least what would happen to the workers and businesses in west London and the Thames Valley that depend on Heathrow today, and what new pressures would be brought to bear on Essex and Kent?

Stephen Nelson Chief Executive, BAA

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