STOP CARGO Night Flights and Pollution at Southend Airport

STOP CARGO Night Flights and Pollution at Southend Airport

Started
2 February 2020
Signatures: 3,246Next Goal: 5,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Irena Grant

Petition summary and background:

Southend Airport is wanting to grow from 2 million to 20 million passengers.

However, it is growing its freight/cargo business too and that means more flights throughout the night and more pollution... 

Every night between 11pm and 6.30am old cargo planes are disrupting residents sleep and polluting our skies...

Thousands of households are affected by this from all walks of life, teachers, children, doctors, nurses, etc etc. 

On the 25/01/2020 - 7, yes SEVEN flights throughout the night were recorded at regular intervals. Could you sleep through that?

The flight path is getting wider and because these old cargo planes are noisier than most passenger planes operating from Southend they are more disruptive: The old planes used are so loud they are waking residents several roads away from where they fly over, so can you imagine what they are like for those directly under it.

Sleep deprivation has been proven to lead to medical issues: it can affect your overall health and make you prone to serious medical conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, mental health issues and lack of focus/concentration, among others. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/307334

Everyone should be entitled to a decent night’s sleep to be able to function properly.

The recent NHS report stated a minimum of 7 hours sleep was needed and more for children; how are they supposed to learn when they don't get enough sleep. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/13/government-to-issue-sleep-hygiene-guidance

Each additional 10 decibels of night-time aircraft noise linked to 69 per cent increased risk of hypertension. Exposure to loud noise from living under a flight path over a long period of time may increase the risk of developing high blood pressure or having a stroke, a study suggests as reported in the Independent newspaper.

The use of earplugs can cause issues in themselves, such as a build-up of wax which has to be medically removed, tinnitus, infections or even loss of hearing in extreme cases.

There is increasing concern for the environmental and health impact of the emissions from the older cargo planes used.These old planes are not as eco friendly as the newer planes and are spewing harmful emissions NO2. https://www.aef.org.uk/2019/02/21/air-pollution-concerns-at-smaller-airports/ 

The levels of this (last study done in 2015) were higher in Southend than at Gatwick.

Pollution travels so this doesn't just affect those under the flightpath. 

AIR QUALITY IN SOUTHEND IS ALREADY LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

Each year, around 29,000 premature deaths are attributable to air pollution from microscopic particles which exacerbated other conditions such as cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease as reported in the Telegraph on 12/03/2019.

According to the World Health Organisation: Air pollution has a disastrous effect on children. Worldwide, up to 14% of children aged 5 – 18 years have asthma relating to factors including air pollution. Figures published in October 2018 by WHO show that every year, 543 000 children younger than 5 years die from respiratory disease linked to air pollution. Air pollution is also linked to childhood cancers. Pregnant women are exposed to air pollution, it can affect foetal brain growth. Air pollution is also linked to cognitive impairment in both children and adults.

Please show some empathy and sign this petition even if you are not directly affected. Thank you for your support.

This is not about holidays but the disruption to quality of life and functionality due to lack of sleep. 

If we don't do something now it may get a lot worse. 

Action petitioned for
We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge our elected council and Govt/Parliamentary representatives to act now, to force an amendment to the S106 agreement between SBC and Stobart, which will put a STOP to the night flights between 11pm and 6.30am.

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Signatures: 3,246Next Goal: 5,000
Support now
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