Noise, noise, noise
Yesterday I joined campaigners from across Suffolk to protest against the possible change of flight paths that will affect so many of my constituents.
Around 50 of us congregated on London’s South bank before marching across Waterloo Bridge where we handed over a petition at NATS HQ.
I strongly argued the case that an alternative solution should be found. West Suffolk already suffers from aircraft noise from the military bases located in Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
There is also concern that the proposed changes will have a negative impact on the racing industry. Breeders of thoroughbred racehorses fear that the horses will react negatively to the increased noise.
The racing industry is a substantial contributor to the British economy. It generates expenditure of around £2.9bn per year, and raises some £282m in tax revenues for the Government.
The thoroughbred horseracing industry produces sales of over £150m annually in the UK and has export revenues of £160m.
Newmarket is at the heart of all of this. The area provides breeding and training facilities for up to 3,000 horses, with more than 7,000 jobs dependent on the industry.
It also significantly contributes to the local economy. Newmarket’s stud farms and racehorse trainers collectively spend more than £100m a year in the area on wages, goods and services.
This is now all under threat. A study commissioned by the Newmarket Horse Racing and Breeders Group suggested that almost two thirds of the stud farms would either move or curtail investment in the area because of the noise and air pollution created by the proposed changes.
This simply cannot be allowed to happen. Yesterday the people of Suffolk made that plainly clear, on grounds of tranquillity for the county’s residents both human and equine alike.