Cookridge resident says airport expansion would make noise unbearable Gina Yelland recently moved to Cookridge from Horsforth, where she had lived most of her life. Although only about a mile nearer the airport, she says the noise from the planes before lockdown was “unbearable”.
She says: “I am strongly opposed to the proposed expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport. If they’re allowed to start flying at 6am and carry on till 11.30 at night, it will seriously damage my health and well-being.”
Gina is autistic and has sensitive hearing. She also has regular sensory-triggered migraines.
But noise isn’t the only reason Gina opposes airport expansion. She points out that claims made by LBA about job creation are based estimates PRIOR to the COVID crisis hitting the UK so they can’t be relied on.
She said: “I’m proud to be from Leeds. We’re doing really well as a green and progressive city. But this climate-damaging project is frankly a step backwards. Expanding the airport is not a priority for Leeds and should not be a priority for our society. We need a better way to help get our economy moving again.”
Additional notes:
1) North West Leeds Transport Forum is a coalition of community organisations in north west Leeds. They warn that 14,000 more people would be exposed to noise from planes at night and more than 60,000 people would hear noise from at least 10 flights every night. NWLTF’s flyer gives more information about the noise impact of LBA’s plans.
2) LBAs out of date economic assessment: LBA’s planning application says: “At the outset, it is important to state that this report was prepared in late 2019 and early 2020 and uses 2019 as a base assessment year. It was, therefore, substantively prepared prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The future projections do not, therefore, take into account the potential economic and market effects of this event”. See para 1.5 of Appendix 11.1: Economic Impact Report, a background document for LBA’s planning application - available on Leeds Leeds Council’s website.