---

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what research his Department has undertaken into the impact on individuals of loss of sleep due to aircraft noise in the vicinity of Heathrow; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library; [146421] (2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the noise from aircraft approaching Heathrow to land between 11.30 pm and 6 am on residents in (a) London and (b) Berkshire. [146420] Mr. Mullin: The former Department of Transport published, in December 1992, the "Report of a Field Study of Aircraft Noise and Sleep Disturbance". This study, which was conducted by a consortium led by the CAA's Department of Safety, Environment and Engineering (now the Environment Research and Consultancy Department, ERCD), was and remains to date the largest survey of its kind in the UK. The survey sites were near Heathrow (Hounslow and Stanwell Moor), Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted airports. Sleep disturbances were detected using actimetry, the validity of which was corroborated using electro-encephalography (EEG). It was found that noise events below 90dBA SEL (equivalent to about 80dBA Lmax) were unlikely to affect average sleep disturbance rates, while events noisier than this gave a mean probability of disturbance of about one in 75, with a range of individual sensitivities around this average. Based upon these results, illustrative estimates of disturbances due to aircraft noise events between 11.30 pm and 6.00 am were included at paragraphs 1.37-1.39 of the Department's Second Stage Consultation on the night restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, dated November 1998. These broad estimates, and the assumptions on which they rely, are carefully explained in the consultation document. A limitation of the 1992 study, recognised at the time, was that it was unable thoroughly to examine disturbance at the onset of sleep and at final awakening. Also, the results provided no evidence to suggest that aircraft noise is likely to cause harmful after effects but the study could not explore this issue exhaustively. In 1998 we announced that we would commission a trial study of sleep disturbance to help inform a decision whether to proceed with a full scale study which would examine, "inter alia", the question of sleep loss and possible after-effects. In the light of advice from a steering group and technical group established to advise on this work, we also commissioned a social survey of attitudes towards aircraft noise at night. These studies have been conducted by consortiums led respectively by Dr. Ian Flindell of the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research and Prof Ian Diamond of the Department of Social Statistics, both at the University of Southampton. They will be published shortly and I shall ensure that copies are placed in the House Library.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

361 c461-2W;361 c462-3W; 146421;146420

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Aircraft Airports Greater London Heathrow Airport Nuisance Noise Night flying Research Sleep Berkshire

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk