Improved sleep and mental health as planes disappear from South London skies

By Charlie Parry

A lack of planes in the sky may be causing airlines sleepless nights – but those living underneath flight paths have never felt better.

The No 3rd Runway Coalition, an environmental group which opposes the expansion of London’s Heathrow airport, conducted a survey of South Londoners who have experienced quieter skies as coronavirus closed borders and grounded planes.

Almost 3,500 people took part in the survey, and nearly 80 per cent of them found that fewer flights brought positive changes to their life.

Dr Julie Wheelright, from Camberwell, said: “We were able to hear the birds singing once again.

“The garden became a place of tranquillity where we could enjoy sitting and we slept more soundly without the 4.30am arrivals from Heathrow. We could look up at a sky no longer scarred by contrails.”

Improved sleep and mental health were common themes across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, with 82 per cent of those surveyed saying that they noticed an improvement to their health, and 63 per cent were sleeping better.

Alice Burton, in Walworth, said: “It has made a huge difference to my stress levels as we can actually sit out in our garden in peace and quiet. What a difference.”

A reduction in noise and the introduction of fresh air were also repeatedly mentioned by those surveyed.

For most, it was an improvement in all of the above areas that brought such relief.

Mark Webb, chairman of Southwark Neighbourhood watch, said: “Stepping outside my flat and watching the planes I could see that the line or vector did not change, it was always right over my home.

“The large Emirates jets would pass overhead at such low altitude that I could make out the structural details underneath the aircraft.

“Then the coronavirus struck in early 2020. Planes internationally were grounded, the noise pollution stopped instantly.

“I could hear the wonderful sound of silence again. The pure joy of not having the overflight is hard to put into words.”

A third runway at Heathrow airport would see another 700 planes in our skies a day, and these planes could cause particular issues in South London.

A survey by the Greater London Authority in 2019 found that planes were flying too low over Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham, causing large amounts of noise pollution.

The GLA’s environment committee warned that a third runway at Heathrow would make that worse.

The No 3rd Runway Coalition hopes that the expansion will not go ahead, and that such fears will not have to be realised.

Paul McGuinness, the group’s chairman, said: “With powerful clarity this survey presents a picture of just what will be lost, in quality of life terms, when flights resume at Heathrow.

“In the past, residents have been told that it’s difficult to measure Heathrow’s impacts, because there has never been a flight absence against which to compare them.

“But lockdown has provided that opportunity. And communities have realised just how detrimental the airport’s activities are.”

Plans for the expansion were ruled illegal by the Court of Appeal on environmental grounds, but Heathrow bosses are confident they can re-jig the details and get new plans through.

A Heathrow spokeswoman said: “Airlines are beginning to gradually resume services as travel restrictions ease.

“We recognise that some local residents have noticed the temporary reduction in flights at Heathrow, but flights restarting is an important first step in protecting many local livelihoods who depend on a successful Heathrow.

“These flights will also play an important role in driving the UK’s economic recovery after this devastating pandemic.

“We will continue incentivising quieter aircraft and operating procedures, as well as working with local authorities to promote active travel to reduce emissions.”

Pictured top: A plane flies low over houses