Representation by Rebecca Dance
- Date submitted
- 8 October 2018
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am writing as a mother of two young girls and as a professional Care Worker to register my initial opposition to the proposals for a cargo hub at Manston.
I have been a resident of Ramsgate for 28 years and currently live in Central Harbour ward, under the flight path. I was educated at primary and secondary schools in Ramsgate, and am now employed as a Care Worker at a residential care home in Central Harbour ward, again, under the flight path.
During my time at secondary school in Ramsgate, I have very clear memories of aircraft noise stopping lessons as well as drowning out conversation in the playground. This was a regular occurrence. Outside of school, I remember the noise of the aircraft frightening my aged grandmother and interrupting our family's sleeping patterns causing ill health and sleep deprivation. Life punctuated by aircraft noise became normal in Ramsgate whilst the old airport was in operation. At least we thought it was normal, because that was what we were used to. At its peak, we were experiencing several ATMs a day, some during the night. We complained to Thanet District Council about the noise, especially about the noise caused by night flights, but they refused to take any meaningful action.
We are now faced with a proposal that could potentially mean a 4166% increase in the number of ATMs. The impact that the noise created by this volume of low-flying aircraft will have on Ramsgate, its residents, and especially its children, is unthinkable. Much research has been carried out in the UK and in other countries on the impact aviation noise pollution has on the health, development and educational attainment of children. In March 2017, the Impacts of Science Group of the Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection reported that in one field study comprising 2844 children (aged 9-10 years) from 89 schools around London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Madrid Barajas airports, there was a strong correlation between exposure to chronic aircraft noise and poorer reading comprehension. The study also found that, after taking social position and road traffic noise into account, children exposed to aircraft noise had much higher levels of anxiety as well as poorer recognition and memory skills. Children with ADHD, dyspraxia, and autism fared even worse when exposed to aircraft noise.
My eldest daughter currently attends a school under the flightpath. My youngest is at nursery and will start school next year. My eldest daughter is currently flourishing at school, loves learning, is a talented and bright child with a desire to achieve. Is my child's development, health and quality of life worth sacrificing for an airport that has shown little sign of success over the last two decades? What about the development, health and quality of life of the thousands of other children in Ramsgate and surrounding areas who will be affected? And beyond noise pollution, one might also consider the safety of children whose schools are directly under the flight path: there are three such schools in Ramsgate. Planes will pass 150m above the heads of the 450 or so pupils at Chilton Primary School every day, many times an hour. Given the history of 'near misses' at Manston, and the lack of Public Safety Zones in the applicant's proposal, I am very concerned by the risk of potential accidents which could result in a substantial loss of life.
As a Care Worker in a residential care home under the flight path, I feel I must also point out that any potential proposal will have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of the older people I look after, and many thousands like them across Ramsgate. There is already much research to suggest a strong link between exposure to aircraft noise and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but recent reports by the Civil Aviation Authority (Cap 1278, March 2016) has also shown a growing correlation between exposure to aircraft noise and increased incidences of hypertension and cognitive decline in individuals aged 59-77. I know as a care professional that disturbing the sleep of an individual with dementia is highly traumatic for that individual, and it can often take several hours to calm them down. The volume of night flights proposed by the applicant will significantly and negatively impact the quality of life of the many people in Ramsgate with dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, and senility-related conditions.
Thank you for considering my application.