HC Deb 22 April 1970 vol 800 c110W
52. Mr. David Howell

asked the President of the Board of Trade what studies he has made of the pattern of aircraft flights from Heathrow over Surrey in an easterly direction, with a view to providing more varied routes than those at present offered by the channelling system over the Midhurst and Dunsford Beacons.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts:

The present easterly route out of Heathrow towards Midhurst and Dunsfold was chosen with much care to reduce total disturbance to the minimum. All the evidence at present available suggests that the spreading of routes, even if otherwise operationally feasible, would increase total disturbance by subjecting larger numbers of people to noise.

Mr. David Howell

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for varying the routes taken by aircraft taking off in a westerly direction from Heathrow over Surrey.

Mr. Goronwy Roberts:

Routes to the west have been chosen to cause the least disturbance to the smallest number of people and I have no plans at present to vary them.

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