There have been a large number of complaints about noise coming from London Luton Airport overnight. Some of the calls have been from residents who live more than two miles from the airport. Liberal Democrat councillors have investigated. The noise is from piling work on the extension to the terminal building. We have been able to extract a promise that the work will not continue over the August bank holiday weekend. We will resume our investigations after the bank holiday. Meanwhile, we can advise that Council Environmental Protection officers have carried out noise monitoring and they report that the noise level is at around 102db which is close to the legal maximum of 110db. The feeling is that the topography serves to amplify the noise.

The work is being carried out by the operating company over which the Council has no control but some influence. The company says the piling has to be carried out when there are no aircraft flying for health and safety reasons. Liberal Democrat councillors for the area are asking them what they are doing to protect the health and safety of local residents. The works are expected to take up to three weeks to complete.

Update 15:30 Tuesday 29th August 2017

Luton Council has notified London Luton Airport Operations that this night-time piling work could be in breach of the conditions of the planning consent. Information about the work had not been provided to the Council by the operator in advance, as was required under a planning condition. We understand that the work has been suspended for the time being. We await further clarification.