HC Deb 28 January 2004 vol 417 cc358-9W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of households which will be subjected to(a) a noise level of (i) 63dBa Leq or more and (ii) 69dBa Leq or more and (b) an increase in noise level of 3dBa Leq or more directly as a result of the increased use of the existing runway at Edinburgh airport as outlined in the recent White Paper on Aviation. [150974]

Mr. McNulty

This information is set out in the Scottish Consultation Document and supporting technical reports. These estimate the number of people who would be affected by different levels of noise under a range of runway options at Edinburgh airport including maximum use of the existing main runway, greater use of the existing crosswind runway and development of a new close parallel runway. Our analysis suggests that by 2030, under the maximum use option, and assuming a 8dBA technology improvement, there would be an increase of 300 people affected within the 63 dBA 16 hour Leq contour with no increase at the 69dBA 16 hour Leq contour. The equivalent figures with increased use of the crosswind runway are 800 and 200 respectively.

The numbers of houses within these contours in the maximum use case is estimated to be 400 at 63 dBA and 100 at 69 dBA. Under the crosswind option the equivalent figures are 600 and 100 respectively.