AIBU to have no sympathy for Heathrow runway debates

[NotForSale]

As the population increases surely another runway is needed to fulfil demand?
The biggest/ only argument I've seen against another runway is noise pollution. Is it just me or is that a 1st world problem? There's people who live in slums/ Calais camps/ overcrowding/ damp/ desperate poverty and quite frankly a bit of extra noise is the least of their worries.

[NotForSale]

Mind you I feel the same about people who don't like wind farms

[TataEs]

YANBU.


wind farms are complete tosh tho.

[Temporaryname137]

I'm right under the proposed new flight path. On the days when planes do go overhead it's unbearable. New proposals would see it go up to a plane every 90 seconds at peak. I didn't sign up for that when I moved in, and it will probably devalue my property because who would want that sort of racket?

:(

[StarlingMurmuration]

I take it your house isn't being demolished for the runway?

I mean, it's not like I'm on the barricades protesting but surely you can see why people in the area aren't happy?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

YABU.

Or at least very unsympathetic to the people living under the flight path, and the children in schools etc.

[Giratina]

I don't think not wanting a runway/flight path close to your home is a first world problem, I thought that term was more for trivial stuff like "waitrose has run out of hummus" and noise pollution can cause real stress to people and affect their quality of life.

[SparklyLeprechaun]

Yabu. People are allowed to care about their quality of life.

[spacefrog35]

Yeah totally. Those whose houses are going to be demolished should just be thankful they're not in a refugee camp

[Temporaryname137]

The already shitty air quality that affects my asthma and worries my for my baby DD will doubtless deteriorate too. Along with all the other kids in the area. But that's ok if it's a first world area, according to you

[Backingvocals]

Yabu of course. This affects hundreds of thousands of people. Apparently more people are affected by Heathrow plane noise than by Paris CDG, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich and Schipol airports put together. The affected area extends miles from Heathrow over the most densely populated area of the country. It's a stupid decision.

[Boosiehs]

Stupid decision. Noise is only one issue. Pollution, increased traffic from people and vans getting to and from LHR on increased motorways, more burning of fossil fuels from more planes. Fucking government wankers.

:(

typing as I hear the rumble of planes going overhead

[Temporaryname137]

And as I think about the already horrific traffic and tubes heading anywhere near it - here, have some duty free s!

[GazingAtStars]

Not everything is about fucking Calais

[FunkinEll]

I live on a current flight path and I can't say I'm overly bothered.

I thought that the less planes hovering over west London waiting to land = less pollution despite there being another runway.

[ElBandito]

They say there will be 6 flight free hours per day. Personally I like to sleep for 8.

[pluck]

My word, you sound heartless.

If the problems of Heathrow (and not just its expansion) are so very trivial (nice ), then surely the conveniences are even more trivial and first-world, and we should do without them.

[harderandharder2breathe]

Yabu

I don't like nimbyism but increased flight volume and the subsequent noise and pollution would have a real effect on people's lives, not like people who object to every new development because it ruins their view.

I hate the attitude that we can't ever have problems because we have a roof and food. There's always someone worse off. I have depression despite no "reason" for it. It doesn't make it any less real, and being made to feel guilty for being unhappy just makes it worse

[BarbarianMum]

Air pollution? Or perhaps it doesn't matter to you if a few more asthmatics choke and more people die of respiratory disease?

[WamBamThankYouMaam]

I'm very much in favour of the expansion, but I feel sorry for those who live nearby.

[wasonthelist]

Yabvu We need to ask ourselves seriously how it can be that all politicians pay lip service to combating climate change and then want to concrete over ever more of West London to encourage even more flying. Why does everyone have to fly around so much?

[wasonthelist]

We seem to be competing with other European cities to see who can be the best at wrecking the environment - what for?

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

YABU.

It's utter madness.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

And how is poor air quality a first world problem?
Haven't you read about China and India's bad air problems?

And what's that to do with Calais?

[Wishforsnow]

I live right under the flight path. I genuinely don't mind about the third runway. Loads of people round here work due to Heathrow. Maybe I am just used to the aircraft noise. Just not an issue.

[DudeWheresMyVulva]

I had the great misfortune to live near Heathrow and under the flight path for 2 years.

When the planes went overhead and if the wind was right, the whole house would shake and you could not hear yourself talk. It was awful.

Some of those people who got that news today will be losing their houses as they are being demolished for the expansion.

A little sympathy is called for, I think.