Tides and Planes
A reminder that Chiswick Mall, whilst protected by the Thames barrier to the East and Richmond Lock to the West, floods at particularly high tides and it can become impossible either to walk or to drive along its full length. Cars parked at certain points are liable to be inundated.
Details of the times and heights of tides for today can be found at
Chiswick Mall tides today
Further information, including Tide Tables, can be found by searching the menus at Thames Tides.
Flooding
General information on flooding can be found on the Environment Agency website and it is possible to register for their free full flood alert warnings via this link Flood Warnings Direct.
It is also possible to see a graphical representation of the tide levels at Richmond Lock by following PLA Richmond.
Heathrow Operations
Sound is also part of the 'spirit of place' of the conservation area. We therefore keep a watching brief on activities at Heathrow to help mitigate the intrusion of aircraft noise both for residents and for visitors. At the moment, thanks to 'runway alternation', generally there is little or no aircraft noise for half of each day. As it can be very confusing for newcomers to understand when Old Chiswick might be free from this intrusive noise, in 2012 OCPS drafted, and has since updated Heathrow operations
Since 2012, details have changed but Heathrow have a vastly improved website for information about their operations. This can be found on the Heathrow Noise website.
For the current Runway Alternation Programme, please click here.
We had commented extensively on the latest Heathrow Consultation, 'Airspace and Future Operations', and have attached some supporting documents here. Consultation 2019.docx is our analysis of how the Conservation Area would be affected, given the information from the Consultation papers.
In addition, we attach some of the Consultation papers below
Heathrow Airport Ltd Consultation-Booklet-Update-1-AW-LR-pages.pdf
September 2024 Update
Gov.uk have announced a consultation on the next night flight regime for 2025 onwards. The government sets night flight restrictions for three airports designated as having a noise problem.
The consultation ends 22 May 2024. The relevant question for us is Question 1
'To what extent do you agree or disagree with proposals for the next night regime for Heathrow?'
OCPS response is-
'We welcome the night-time abatement noise objective with the following provisos- lack of definition of the terms 'quality of life' and 'sustainable growth' (to include a non-noise-based environmental component) should be addressed.
We recognise the pragmatic approach to maintaining current measurements pending further discussion and studies. However, as it stands, the status quo can disincentivise the early implementation of technological advances as they become available, such as new, quieter localised flightpath protocols and regimes, and new soundproofing with natural ventilation technology,(important because the Heathrow footprint covers a large proportion of older housing).'
Background.
The purpose of the consultation is to
1. Confirm the proposal wording below for the night flight regime 2025, based on last year's consultation on the wording of the 'night time abatement objective' for the three UK south-east airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted).
NB. Last year's consultation was mostly responded to by affected Local Authorities, environmental groups and industry.
' To limit and where possible reduce the adverse effects of aviation noise at night on health and quality of life, whilst supporting sustainable growth and recognising the importance to the UK of commercial passenger and freight flights.
and 2. Set parameters to measure the limits and effects, the latter which currently includes one of dBLA contours that exceed 48dB between the hours of 23.30 and 0600. This is designed to track the numbers of people in an area affected by noise.
Limits are measured by number of aircraft movements in the 6.5 HR night period, set for winter and summer season, together with QC, a quota count weighted by aircraft type noise certification at take off and landing, overlaid on the number of movements. If airport movements (landings and takeoffs) are less than the total movement limit, the QC allows for more movements of quieter aircraft.
The consultation proposes no change for Heathrow movement limits, quota count measurements or dB contour limits.
There is a recognition however that a) several health and wellbeing studies to ascertain the affects of navigation noise, including at night, are due to be published in the next 3 years, including the ANNE study (UK government), and WHO guidance for estimating burden of disease from environmental noise,
b) some self-evidently effective additional measurements such as average noise of an aircraft over a season, or 'number above' i.e. a number of aircraft exceeding say 60dB per movement contour, are currently unable to be routinely gathered, but might be possible in the future
and c) sustainable growth measures are not yet agreed or in use.