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Civil Aviation Bill

moved Amendment No. 28A:"After Clause 4, insert the following new clause—" ““SOUND-PROOFING OF DOMESTIC AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY AERODROME USE (1)   The Secretary of State shall, no later than one year after this section comes into effect, make regulations under section 20(1) of the Land Compensation Act 1973 (c. 26) (sound-proofing of buildings affected by public works) imposing a duty on responsible authorities to insulate domestic and community buildings such as schools and nurseries, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, places of worship, libraries and other public use buildings against noise caused, or expected to be caused, by the use of aerodromes for the taking off and landing of aircraft. (2)   Such insulation should provide for internal noise environments equivalent to or better than the ““good”” category of BS 8233 where relevant. (3)   In making provision as to the level of noise giving rise to such a duty in respect of a building or class of buildings and the area in which a building must be situated if the duty is to arise in respect of it, the regulations must make reference to the noise attenuation of individual rooms in domestic and community buildings such as outlined in subsection (1) above.”” The noble Lord said: I apologise for tabling Amendment No. 28A as a manuscript amendment at the previous sitting of the Committee. I received the information only closely beforehand and it was good that we were able to adjourn before considering it. This is a probing amendment concerning the sound-proofing of domestic and community buildings. It is particularly relevant to people who live under the Heathrow flight path in places such as Hounslow and its purpose is to seek better insulation provision for the properties affected. As noble Lords will know, Hounslow is probably the UK’s worst-affected community for exposure to aircraft noise. The people living there would say that the level of noise experienced is excessive on a daily basis and, as the Committee discussed on the previous occasion, the night time is probably worse. Certainly the noise levels exceed those recommended by the World Health Organisation. It was therefore good that the aviation White Paper suggested that the Government would bear down on noise, especially at night. I believe that the WHO recommend a 30dB(A) noise level for a bedroom. However, the Bill does not appear to take that into account despite the Government previously stating that they recognised that noise from aircraft at night is regarded as the least acceptable aspect of aircraft operations. To support this, on 4 June 2005 the Lancet stated categorically that children’s educational development was being affected by exposure to aircraft noise. This is very serious and reflects other studies undertaken in the UK and elsewhere. Teachers and pupils in schools throughout Hounslow and neighbouring boroughs can testify that noise is a serious problem in their classrooms and play areas. The Bill does not take proper account of the impact of noise on children’s educational development. The Borough of Hounslow certainly acknowledges the current BAA insulation schemes on offer to local schools but there are problems with the level of funding and the lack of any associated insulation ventilation aspect. It is fine to insulate a room against noise, but if you do not ventilate it properly it soon becomes unbearable through heat, oxygen quality and so on. I have experience of this. The property in which I live in London is next to the West London line and the Government put in secondary insulation against noise when the Channel Tunnel was opened and they were going to bring more freight trains along there. The insulation keeps the noise away but there is not a very nice atmosphere unless there is proper ventilation. So ventilation is clearly important. The amendment seeks to probe whether my noble friend can see a way of imposing a better duty on the responsible authorities—which are clearly the airport authorities—for the insulation of not only houses but schools, nurseries, hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, places of worship, libraries and the other buildings referred to in the amendment, and for ensuring that the noise attenuation of individual rooms in domestic and community buildings is satisfactory. I beg to move.