Ask the neighbours
I HAVE read with interest the arguments to keep Plymouth airport and have been approached to sign a petition, which I refused to do.
The reasons for this, some might say, could be selfish.
I would now like to voice my opinion and see if anyone agrees with me.
I would like it to be known that we often used the London flights if the price was competitive to either the train or to drive and the times were compatible.
Unit 30, Dinan Way Trading Estate, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 4RS, United Kingdom
01395 267805
Terms: only one voucher can be used at a time
Contact: 01395 200611
Valid until: Saturday, May 25 2013
Yes, this was a big bonus for us only living two miles from the airport. So I'm not speaking as someone who has never used the service.
However, our row of houses was in the direct flight path for the majority of the flights, wind depending, so at 6.40am each morning we were woken by the first flight of the day, seven days a week.
This would continue throughout the day. Then the return flights we could almost see the pilot, wheels were down etc and the noise – well if you were in the middle of a conversation you would have to wait until the plane had flown over. Some might say, "So what?" but this was a continuous annoyance all day until late at night.
There was then talk about extending the runway to take larger aircraft. Again, this is not something that I would like to have to live with on a permanent basis and I ask all those who are fighting for the airport if they would like to have to live with this.
I'm not completely sure if any residents closer to the airport ever had any compensation, but I can assure you that we certainly didn't or even consulted on how it was affecting our lives.
We travel abroad about four times a year and as much as I miss the chance to be able to fly to Gatwick, I don't miss the noise one bit and I feel our quality of life has improved.
The ideal site for a newer bigger airport would have been Sherford, but I don't think that would have suited those residents in that area and there would have been a hue and cry had it ever been suggested.
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED
Comments
by Bonzo1984
Friday, September 07 2012, 10:51PM
“Your house was probably discounted because of the airport!”
by b_mused
Friday, September 07 2012, 10:48PM
“if "Name and address supplied" lives 2 miles from the airport, I think he has somewhat exaggerated the nuisance caused. The airport has been there for donkey's years and you only have to look at a map to work out the flight paths - so if it upsets you, don't move there.”
by Darrell_R
Friday, September 07 2012, 8:19PM
“Narrow minded in my opinion. The runway should be kept. If you get woke up make a cup of coffee drink it and then watch TV.”
by GreenGOM
Friday, September 07 2012, 7:38PM
“What on earth are you doing in bed at 06:40? Are you a shift worker or just lazy?”
by OLDALBIONFAN
Friday, September 07 2012, 5:58PM
“You travel abroad four times a year....so you are perfectly happy for someone else to suffer noise when it suits you.”
by Watawally
Friday, September 07 2012, 5:45PM
“I cannot believe that I read this letter from anonymous. The airport was there way before he or she moved in.
If you don't like it then why on earth move in there in the first place? Don't come whining to us about it! You knew it was an operational airportat the time, or are you stupid?
An airport at 'Sherford' would probably benefit - BUT, I will say but; it will cost a heck more than an arm and a leg to build. So whilst we are at it, let's support Viable and create an airport on the land that has already got airport facilities, like the runways, etc.
It wouldn't cost as much as a 'start from scratch' build.
We need to kick SHH up the backside now to get them to return the land back to the people!”
by CharlieDodd
Friday, September 07 2012, 2:44PM
“I'm reading "Flight of the Mew Gull" a factual account of a pilots solo 1939 flight from Britain to Cape Town in a light aircraft, touching down to refuel at a string of desert and jungle airfields and airports at small towns across the Sahara and down the west coast of Africa.
I just looked them up on google earth and see the airfields are still there 70 years later,and have been expanded and improved so if tiny settlements can have them why can't a big world-famous city like Plymouth?”
by cakegirl
Friday, September 07 2012, 2:31PM
“how very selfish! i live reasonably close to a school.... maybe i should complain about the noise of children playing at the same times each day, will i ? no because we chose to live here, why on earth buy a house close to the airport or under the flight path if this bothers you? the attitude i am alright jack springs to mind as i dare say you would give a second thought for the people living under the flight paths of yr trips abroad.
consider yourself lucky to only be disturbed at certain periods of the day, some people may have to live next to a busy main road as thats all they can afford and have to put up with the traffic and filth generated by the car/trucks etc...time to realise that the benefit of an airport outweighs your necessity for peace all day.
i used the airport a couple of times a year and really miss it, but i have to say how many people who actually signed the petition did so to? for the airport to be viable again it needs to offer international flights and this is unlikely to happen.....”
by Locker_paul
Friday, September 07 2012, 2:23PM
“I live in Plymouth and work abroad. Having to go to Heathrow for flights adds 6 hours on to my journey. I had flown from Plymouth in the past and you only have to be there 45 minutes before the flight and dont have to put up with socially challenged BAA security staff.
Recently I had to fly to Manchester because all the airfares to fly into Heathrow had been bumped up due to the time of year. I really wished then we had our own airport.
A bit of competition is what is needed to keep airfares down nationally. However I think only having flights to Dublin and Manchester from Plymouth was a bit stupid. If we had some better routes initially it may have worked.”
by CharlieDodd
Friday, September 07 2012, 1:54PM
“Modern mini-jet airliners are as quiet as a vacuum cleaner, don't need long runways, pollute less than a barbecue and can top 500 mph, meaning that if we hop on one at Plymouth airport we can reach the furthest corners of Europe in no time, for example coming in to land over the Kremlin in just over 3 hours.
Fancy somewhere nearer? No problem, gay Paree would be just a 45-minute hop across the channel..:)”