Should smaller airports have acoustic barriers in place?

If you are a regular visitor to Gatwick or Heathrow, you will know that acoustic fencing plays a major role in helping to make life more bearable for local residents. Goodness knows how difficult things would be if the planes that are constantly taking off and landing were able to do so without any deflection or absorption of sound. For men, women and children who live and work nearby, it could become almost impossible to lead a normal life, especially during the busy periods in and around the annual summer holiday season.

While it might be all too apparent to see the need for acoustic barriers at major airports, there are some who might like to see them at some of the smaller facilities as well. You may take one look at places like Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and Biggin Hill in Kent and think acoustic fencing would be totally unnecessary, but the chances are you might think differently if you lived close to the runways. Though these places generally entertain lighter aircraft, there can still be a great deal of noise generated, especially if there are a number of helicopters located nearby as well.

Acoustic fencing performs an extremely important public service

The next time you drive along a major motorway in the United Kingdom, see if you can spot an occasional line of acoustic barriers close to the carriageway. The chances are there will be some residential housing close by, and the fencing is there to take some of the racket away from neighbours. This type of fencing is a vital ally in the battle against noise pollution, and it can make all the difference during morning and evening peak periods. Just imagine living nearby, and wanting to spend a quiet hour or two in the garden – it might not be as easy or as pleasant as you think.

While these smaller airports tend to handle an increasing number of privately owned small planes and various craft used for pleasure flights, it should be noted that they are still capable of generating a great deal of noise. On especially busy days, such as weekends in the summer, neighbours who like to spend time in the garden may not find it very easy thanks to the constant take-offs and landings. Many of these airfields are former RAF locations which were designed for occasional use, but these days they are used for a very different application.