Action Briefing Dec 2002 - Jan 2003
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Aircraft Noise: It Takes The Peace

With a week to go before the close of the Government’s Consultation on the Future of Air Transport, Birmingham Friends of Earth staged a noise protest from Solihull to Sutton Coldfield.

Saturday 23rd November saw campaigners from Birmingham Airport anti Noise Group (BANG!), Solihull Opposing Additional Runways (S.O.A.R.) and Birmingham FOE charging through Birmingham to protest against the proposed Wide Spaced second runway at Birmingham Airport. From Elmdon, Solihull to Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield a recording of aircraft noise was blasted out of two loud speakers mounted on the back of a truck. The truck followed a route that traces the flight path of the new runway. The aim was to warn residents about what lies in store for them if the new runway goes ahead - intolerable levels of noise disturbance and pollution from aircraft.

Of course, the good thing about the aircraft noise we were blasting out is that it was temporary. At the end of the day we could turn it off. But if the Wide Spaced second runway goes ahead at Birmingham Airport and the planes start coming overhead for real then there won’t be an off switch - ever.

We are angry that Birmingham City Council did not follow the lead of its Solihull counterpart and reject the expansion proposals outlined in the Department for Transport’s Consultation. The new runway will not only have devastating consequences for Solihull but will also mean hundreds of thousands of Birmingham people are exposed to aircraft noise and pollution night and day. Our protest was meant to tell local people how they have been betrayed- wake up to the second runway!

James Botham