Plans to reshuffle Gatwick flight paths threaten to bring more noise to once-peaceful villages in rural Kent

Plans to reshuffle Gatwick flight paths threaten to bring more noise to once-peaceful villages in rural Kent.

The proposed 'sky motorways' could see aircrafts from Britain's 20 busiest airports channeled into narrower routes.

It is hoped that the changes would save time and fuel, as well as decrease delays and reduce noise for some of the residents already living under the flight paths.

But concerns have been raised by locals living in the quaint village of Ashurst, near Tunbridge Wells, that new routes might exacerbate an already growing problem. 

Resident Domenico, who moved to the village during the pandemic, told The Telegraph: 'It's catastrophic. A lot of people are very angry and concerned (the noise) will continue to increase. 

He told the newspaper that when he moved to the village he expected it to be peaceful, but that hasn't turned out to be the case.

He said if you do go outside and spend time in the British countryside, you will notice the 'noise is unsustainable already'.

The 27-year-old fears what could happen if changes are made to the current flight paths.

Last August the village saw an average of 15 flights a day where the flights exceeded over 60 decibels — the equivalent of two people having a conversation sitting at a distance of around one metre apart. 

No changes have yet been made and will not be considered for several years. Members of the public will also be consulted.

London Gatwick is also implementing a legally binding 'noise envelope' as part of the Northern Runway Project. 

The commitment would ensure that within nine years of Northern Runway opening, noise levels would be no higher than the 2019 baseline. 

Domenico said that tourists visiting Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn's childhood home, are affected by the noise, as it lies seven miles to the north of the village. 

Hever Castle houses one of Gatwick Airport's sound recording boxes. According to the airport's data, over 250 flights hit a 60 decibel mark during peak season. 

A handful of flights also exceed 70 decibels, which is equivalent to a washing machine or dishwasher. 

In a worst case scenario some flights have reached 85 decibels, the point at which hearing can be damaged.  

Ashdown Forest, an area of open heathland, is also located eight miles south west of Ashurst and inspired A. A. Milne's fictional Hundred Acre Wood.

Resident Chris Tomlin agreed that it was noisy enough in the village and there is a regular droning sound that fills the air.

He has been a resident for 20 years and said the noise used to be constant, but that it comes and goes now. 

Charles Lloyd, a member of the Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign and Gatwick Obviously Not said some people would not be affected by the noise, but 'some would get incredibly intense noise such as they had never experienced before'.

Mr Lloyd lives in the Penshurst, which if one of the single track arrival options is chosen in the plan, could benefit residents of the village.

This could be a relief for residents who are currently bothered by the aircraft overhead.

 Changes are being considered as part of a broader Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) which is being developed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Aircraft today mostly follows outdated routes that were put in place during the 1950s. With modern technology and updated airspace designs, aircraft could climb more quickly and take more direct routes. 

Carbon emissions could also be reduced through a reduction in fuel use.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: 'Like all major UK airports, London Gatwick is taking part in the Government-led programme to modernise UK airspace. This work will enable aircraft to climb more quickly and take more direct routes, leading to a reduction in noise, carbon emissions and delays.

'All airports in the programme must follow the CAA's airspace change process, which includes guidelines to ensure decision-making for airspace change is fair and transparent with progress openly documented on the CAA's website.

'The London Gatwick element of the programme has progressed through two stages of the seven-stage regulatory process, during which stakeholder input has been sought to help the development and assessment of potential design options, no changes to flightpaths have been decided. London Gatwick has complied fully with the airspace change process so far, with public consultation being planned for the next stage.'