Heathrow Airport urged to drop Richmond Park flight path plans

Plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport had been paused due to the pandemic

A motion has been passed by the London Assembly to protect Richmond Park from increased flight paths.

Heathrow Airport has submitted proposals for "airspace modernisation" with the aim of making journeys quicker and quieter.

The Friends of Richmond Park has said these proposals could see up to 60,000 arrival flights passing over the park.

The Liberal Democrats who put the motion forward have also urged Heathrow to "go back to the drawing board".

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "No decisions have been made on which flight path options could be adopted or discarded from the recently published shortlist."

However, the Liberal Democrats have warned the potential increase in the number of flights over Richmond Park each year could damage the area's wildlife and impact local residents.

The Liberal Democrat's transport spokesperson and London Assembly member, Caroline Pidgeon said: "Large numbers of Londoners live where they do because the current flight paths have been in place since the 1950s.

"They made life decisions based on those flight paths and the rest of life at ground level has similarly evolved and adapted itself around the current paths.

"We also know that noise pollution from aircraft can contribute to a range of mental and physical health problems, most often linked to disturbances in our sleep cycles."

• Heathrow airport plans cause environmental fears for Richmond Park - BBC News

Heathrow Airport added: "We have committed to play our part in the Government's Airspace Modernisation Strategy."

The airport also mentioned the importance of detailed environmental assessments and full community consultation.

It has also clarified that the airspace modernisation proposals are distinct from its plans for a third runway, which have been paused due to the pandemic.

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