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Dad launches blog over airport noise concerns

3:40pm Saturday 5th December 2009 in


A PARENT has spoken of his concerns about possible increased noise at another primary school if the flightpath at Southend Airport is extended.

In October, the airport brokered a deal with Southend Council and Rochford District Council to agree planes would fly over the outskirts of Rochford instead of Eastwood at night.

The deal was done to head off opposition in Eastwood and Leigh to the prospect of night flights.

Kevin Attridge, 51, of Stambridge Road, Rochford, has two children at Stambridge Primary School, and is worried daytime flights could increase over Rochford. He has set up an online blog on the issue, and said: “Blenheim Primary is suffering from noise pollution now. The noise problems from aircraft are recognised and will have an effect on children’s learning abilities.”

Headteacher Maureen Sealeaf said: “We are keeping our ear to the ground, but it’s still in the discussion and planning stage. All authorities involved are looking at it from different points of view.”

Airport managing director Alastair Welch said a noise impact assessment was made with and without a runway extension. He said: “Stambridge Primary School currently experiences less than 54 decibels of noise – and the assessment shows this will be the case in 2020 whether a runway extension is brought into use or not.”

Comments(11)

emcee says...
4:20pm Sat 5 Dec 09

Oh dear. This is scraping the bottom of the barrel now. I think I will start a blog saying how great the airport extension will be. Do you think the Echo will report it? Nah...me neither.

Unless, of course, I wait for a slow news day.

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reptile says...
5:43pm Sat 5 Dec 09

Children make more noise then aircraft but have the last throw of the NIMBY dice why don't you?

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firedog says...
7:48pm Sat 5 Dec 09

I think it is about time people living near schools where protected against the terrible noise emitted at playtime,and the dangerous traffic congestion they cause, thereought to be a public enquiry.

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evilc says...
8:57pm Sat 5 Dec 09

The next it will be the 'Badgers or The slow worm' disturbance.

Lets build it now or better still 20 years ago.

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perini says...
10:06pm Sat 5 Dec 09


Mr Attridge - move! Southend airport has been there since 1914 so stop whinging about noise - you chose to live there so put up, shut up, or do one - idiot!

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kittylitter says...
7:20pm Sun 6 Dec 09

Isn't it interesting that nowhere in the article does it say that Kevin Attridge is a leading member of SAEN, the group opposed to the development of the airport?!

Concerned dad? Nah .... just one of the anti airport protestors using his own children to drive his agenda.

Now that's low ....

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Ian P says...
8:05pm Sun 6 Dec 09

Are we to assume that Mr Attridge and his family never fly or is he just being a total hypocrite?

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vangebasildon says...
11:21pm Sun 6 Dec 09

Headteacher Maureen Sealeaf said: “We are keeping our ear to the ground

Just what teaching method is that....lol

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karen29 says...
9:06am Mon 7 Dec 09

vangebasildon wrote:
Headteacher Maureen Sealeaf said: “We are keeping our ear to the ground Just what teaching method is that....lol
The noise is in the air - unless the airplanes burrow unerground?

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BASILBRUSH says...
4:33pm Thu 10 Dec 09

Having just read an Ofsted Report about the school from May 2009 it was interesting and good to see that Blenheim school has outstanding in every field including use of the outdoor environment. Clearly the airport doe's not affect them.
Remember with the cap on movements, traffic levels will be similar to now and with more modern quieter aircraft. The approach profile would be higher on finals than now on Easterlies than now with a new Instrument Landing System.
So perhaps the small group of antis would stop scaremongering.

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max ell says...
6:51pm Thu 10 Dec 09

It good to see that there are people now making bunce cash for discredting any oppostion on airport expansion its a shame they see it as a game rather than reality I think it a shame that even if mr attridge is a saen member, he has still been judged, on genral feeling rather than genuine concern, by the way this is addressed to the judge and jury

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