AIRCRAFT noise levels at Stansted Airport fell last year, according to latest Government figures.
The annual study for the Department of Transport shows that all noise around the airport decreased last year compared to 2000.
The improvement is attributed to the reduction of movements by first and second generation jets, which are now banned from operating in the European Union.
Catherine Whitbourn, from Stansted's flight evaluation unit, said that despite high traffic growth since 1990, the area experiencing what the Government considers to be noise nuisance decreased by 19 per cent.
She said: "This decrease was attributed to the reduction in movement rates of older, noisier, chapter 2 aircraft, in particularly the decrease in movements by the BAC 1-11 which fell by 64 per cent."
She added the total annual movements at Stansted had also dropped slightly in 2001 compared to 2000, following the events of September 11.
July 9, 2002 11:30
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article