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Residents near Heathrow unhappy with compensation

News imageZac Sherratt/BBC Woman wearing sunglasses smiling at the camera. She is stood outside terraced houses, which are painted cream and white. Zac Sherratt/BBC
Claire Mack said "there should be a fair and equitable offer for everybody"

People living in a village under the Heathrow Airport flight path have hit out at potential compensation linked to plans for a third runway.

Residents of Stanwell Moor, in Surrey, have described a mooted payment of £3,000 as "unfair" given the £6,500 offered to residents close to Gatwick Airport, which is set to build a second runway.

The government published its blueprint for a third runway at Heathrow in June, describing expansion of the airport as "critical to national growth".

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "While [Gatwick] is providing slightly higher compensation in lower noise areas, it is for a far narrower pool of people impacted."

Gatwick declined to comment.

Stanwell Moor resident Claire Mack said: "We moved here over 30 years ago when there wasn't a Terminal 5. We were never compensated for that, even though it's had a huge detrimental effect on our village."

She disagreed with the disparity in the amounts being offered by Heathrow and Gatwick, saying: "It's really unfair... There should be a fair and equitable offer for everybody."

Bee Boniface, who has lived in the area for eight years, called it "a lovely community" but said she did not realise how bad the noise was when she moved there.

She said: "There is talk about houses possibly being bought out and those who wish to move being given 25% more than the market value.

"We'd definitely take that offer because the flights are quite disruptive to our lives."

Meanwhile, another resident, Mel Preece, offered a more drastic solution.

News imageZac Sherratt/BBC Man with white hair wearing white polo shirt looking into the camera. He is stood in front of terraced houses on a pavementZac Sherratt/BBC
Stanwell Moor resident Mel Preece suggested the airport should "buy the whole village" and let people relocate

"They should buy the whole village out and flatten it," he said.

"That way they can give people peace of mind and let them relocate."

In addition, Mary Brooks said another Heathrow runway would spell "turmoil, an absolute nightmare" for Stanwell Moor.

The Heathrow spokesperson added: "Our offer of fully funded insulation applies to a wider area than Gatwick's, benefiting more of those most affected by noise.

"The reality is Gatwick and Heathrow operate in different environments, which is why noise insulation schemes are adapted to local impacts."

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