Today's most viewed
| THIS LIFE - SPECIAL REPORTS |  | | | | | COMPETITION - WIN YOUR DAD A FATHER'S DAY TO REMEMBER AT VENTURE, WORCESTER | | | | LATEST | | | | | | | | | RESTAURANT REVIEWS | | | | | | RECIPES | | | | | | Click here for past polls
|
|
|
|
We're sorry for the noise
 |
| FLYING HIGH: A Hercules C130 over Worcester |
DEFENCE chiefs have apologised to the people of Worcester over noisy planes - but there are no plans to stop them flying.
Your Worcester News has received complaints about droning aircraft over the city and now defence minister Derek Twigg has said "sorry".
However, he was unable to tell Mike Foster, MP for Worcester, when, or if, the aircraft would ever stop circling the city.
People in St John's, Rainbow Hill, Blackpole, Northwick and Barbourne have complained about a Hercules and a Britten Norman Islander (or a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter).
Mr Foster has received six complaints and Worcester City Council two - both are now referring complaints directly to the Ministry of Defence.
The letter from Defence Minister Derek Twigg to Mr Foster said: "I'm sorry youR constituents have been disturbed by this essential training that has taken place over the Worcestershire area.
"The aircraft are operating at around 20,000 feet to try and minimise the disturbance to the public.
"However, I can confirm that this type of activity will continue in the foreseeable future as its essential preparation to deployment to certain operational theatres."
Mr Foster said: "As much as I understand the concerns of constituents I'm sure they would rather people were safe in a war zone as a result of the type of training that's going on."
Although the Ministry of Defence has confirmed that there is military training, they have not been able to confirm whether one or both of the planes are military.
On resident from Northwick, who did not wish to be named, said it was the red plane, believed by some to be a Britten Norman Islander, causing the most noise rather than the Hercules as it circled 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
She said: "It's extremely annoying. It's doing the same circles all the time. It never goes out of ear shot."
Estella Thomson, aged 69, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, said: "Does it not contravene human rights? Have we not got a right to enjoy our home? I could even hear it with double glazing and it really bothers my husband."
However, Squadron Leader Peter Sinclair, speaking on behalf of the MOD, was still not certain both the planes were military.
He said many of the military planes were flying so high (more than 20,000 feet) and the naked eye would be unlikely to see them.
He confirmed that a Hercules could well be in operation in the area and that military used light-coloured Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar aircraft.
He said the only red plane he knew of was used by the army for parachute practice in Oxfordshire.
The phone number for MOD Air complaints is 020 7218 6020.
Discuss this further in our Your Say forums here.7:10am Monday 5th May 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Mark, Worcester on 8:42am Mon 5 May 08
what is wrong with these people? they will be moaning about the birds singing next
what is wrong with these people? they will be moaning about the birds singing next
Posted by: Threadbare, City of Worcester on 9:43am Mon 5 May 08
This "noise" is the sound of freedom.
This "noise" is the sound of freedom.
Posted by: Nick, Barbourne on 12:40pm Mon 5 May 08
Thank goodness I now know what the noise is. I was driven mad a few days ago when I was working in the attic.
Thank goodness I now know what the noise is. I was driven mad a few days ago when I was working in the attic.
Posted by: Logik, worcester on 1:08pm Mon 5 May 08
[quote]Mr Foster said: "As much as I understand the concerns of constituents I'm sure they would rather people were safe in a war zone as a result of the type of training that's going on."[/quote]
I'm sure constituents would much rather prefer that the Government did not go about starting wars in the first place, particularly those that had absolutely no justification in the first place.
Mr Foster said: "As much as I understand the concerns of constituents I'm sure they would rather people were safe in a war zone as a result of the type of training that's going on."
I'm sure constituents would much rather prefer that the Government did not go about starting wars in the first place, particularly those that had absolutely no justification in the first place.
Posted by: varien, worcester on 3:21pm Mon 5 May 08
Local people should be proud of the fact that excercises which may benefit and help protect our military personel are being carried out in this area. In the 1980's I lived in Whitbourne which on occassions happened to be in the flight path for low flying exercises. At times the noise was so loud the house would shake. The aircraft were also so low that one could actually see the pilot. Noisy yes but the sense of pride was overwhelming.
[quote]Estella Thomson, aged 69, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, said: "Does it not contravene human rights? Have we not got a right to enjoy our home? I could even hear it with double glazing and it really bothers my husband."[/quote]
Is this woman real?
Local people should be proud of the fact that excercises which may benefit and help protect our military personel are being carried out in this area. In the 1980's I lived in Whitbourne which on occassions happened to be in the flight path for low flying exercises. At times the noise was so loud the house would shake. The aircraft were also so low that one could actually see the pilot. Noisy yes but the sense of pride was overwhelming.
Estella Thomson, aged 69, of Rainbow Hill, Worcester, said: "Does it not contravene human rights? Have we not got a right to enjoy our home? I could even hear it with double glazing and it really bothers my husband."
Is this woman real?
Posted by: Harry Wilson, Worcestershire on 3:38pm Mon 5 May 08
These things happen when you live by a major defence research base. Do these people prefer a quiet life with our troops in danger, compared to a relatively minor noise nuisance?
These things happen when you live by a major defence research base. Do these people prefer a quiet life with our troops in danger, compared to a relatively minor noise nuisance?
Posted by: Alan2, Worcester on 7:00pm Mon 5 May 08
I live immediately under the flight path and they don't bug me one little bit in fact they give my spirits a lift until I suddenly realise how few of them we have got and how serious for us the trouble would be if we got into another war. I do also question what is the point of all these boffins and support arms of the three services when we have hardly any army, navy and airforce at all.
I live immediately under the flight path and they don't bug me one little bit in fact they give my spirits a lift until I suddenly realise how few of them we have got and how serious for us the trouble would be if we got into another war. I do also question what is the point of all these boffins and support arms of the three services when we have hardly any army, navy and airforce at all.
Posted by: Biggles, Worcester on 10:45pm today
Good luck to the RAF, Foster, behave yourself, don't get trying to ban aircraft !
Good luck to the RAF, Foster, behave yourself, don't get trying to ban aircraft !
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
Discuss This
