Airport boss: We’re trying to curb noise

From the archive, first published Friday 13th Apr 2007.

THE boss of Southend Airport has insisted efforts will be made to reduce noisy night-time flights.

Alastair Welch took over as managing director of the airport in February and has moved to allay people's concerns about late-night noise.

Earlier this month a handful of residents living near the airport complained about the problem.

Mr Welch said: "We have had and will continue to have flights 24 hours a day.

"At the time of the complaints we had a number of freight flights which are noisy. We have tried to set up a voluntary protocol with operators so if flights can be delayed until the next day, they will be.

"This is in response to two or three complaints we've had recently about noise during the night."

Mr Welch said there was no way to guarantee an end to all night flights and they were at times unavoidable.

At the time of the noisy night flights, Terry Miller, 54, of Denton Avenue, Southend, complained about the problem and questioned why there needed to be flights and work carried out at night.

Mr Welch added: "What we are doing is trying to prevent operators flying at night unless they have to.

"If it is possible for them to be at Southend overnight rather than somewhere else, then we will encourage that.

"We have spoken to various operators and organisations and we are trying our best to ensure our neighbours are not affected by noise during the night where possible."