Wokingham MP John Redwood says he has seen a marked increase in the number of residents complaining to him about aircraft noise over the last 10 years.

He said he has been lobbying BAA, the Government and the aircraft industry to build quieter planes and not go ahead with the airport expansion.

Mr Redwood said: “One of the reasons we have had more noise in the last few months is there have been more easterly winds.”

He said he believes the Heathrow Airport expansion plan to build a third runway will be a big issue at the approaching General Election, which is widely expected to take place at the start of May.

He said if the Conservatives were to win power, the expansion plan would be scrapped.

Mr Redwood added: “People write to me and say ‘the noise is getting worse and I do not like it’, and I write back and say ‘I know, I hear it too and I agree with you’.”

A spokesperson for BAA, which operates the airport, said: “There have been no substantial increases in numbers of aircraft arriving at Heathrow in recent years, and, although there are no set routes for arriving aircraft, there has been no significant shift in arrival patterns.

“Aircraft arriving over Finchampstead typically fly at several thousand feet. The area will mainly be overflown by arriving aircraft when the wind is blowing from the east, typically around a third of the time.

“As part of the planning process for a third runway at Heathrow, NATS will look at how new flight paths might operate and the local community will be consulted.

“For more information you can visit www.heathrowairport.com/noise.”

- Are you bothered by noise from aircraft? We want to know where in the borough people are experiencing excess noise from flights. Contact us at editorial@wokingham-times.co.uk or call (0118) 918 3030.

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