Comments on: Andrew Gilligan: Hellish Copters

By: Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:37:17 +0000

Ok Peter

You are right I did not read right through, got very high handed, but my excuse is that I am tired!!!!

Cheers Chris

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:23:24 +0000

Chris, my response was not to you but to the article. Perhaps you missed this section…

“To those of you who say that helicopters are necessary for the police, the ambulance service, the military and even to get our beloved captains of industry around, I would agree sometimes. (I wouldn’t agree always – the burden of being kept awake by the police helicopter for hours probably outweighs the benefit of catching whoever it is they are after.”

Gilligan clearly states he doesn’t think his sleep being disturbed is worth allowing the police to do their job. Perhaps he could of investigated the reasons police have used helicopters and who knows, perhaps he is right.

I agree with the point that noise pollution can be a terrible thing and having your sleep disturbed constantly must be most physically and mentally disturbing. Woudn’t call you a Nimby with regards to tourist flights etc as there is no need for these flights. Though possibly Namby would be a better term (not above my back yard); but as I say this wasn’t my intention.

By: Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:32:48 +0000

To PETER who commented sarcasticly on my “peace” being disturbed by Police chasing murderers, rapists and other criminals.

If you had read my piece & understood my point correctly and without bias, you would have noticed the times quoted were unusually regular between 10pm & 1am (yes I know after pubs clear out I am not that ignorant). We rarely hear a helipcopter during the daytime. As I stated this is not just police, as a lot of the noise is not made by the size of helicopter used by police but often sounds far larger i.e. chinook size, very loud. And having heard recently about Prince Andrew using helipcopters to come back from “do’s” for his convenience this is very much an abuse of his privelige and my money.

I fully support of our much beleagured police force and our troops serving abroad, but when you have to get up for work at 4am, being woken regularly is very much like torture. We all know the effects of sleep deprivation on our bodies & minds and also in how it effects the way we perform at work etc.

So Peter I am not being a NIMBY just a concerned Greenwich resident who would like some sort of control to be enforced over the amount of helicopters & the associated noise pollution over our borough.

Also for the last few nights in this really hot weather I have had to have my bedroom window closed, can you imagine how hot its been?

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:39:55 +0000

I quite agree, how dare those pesky police helicopters disturb your peace by chasing murderers or rapists or other violent criminals.

By: Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:13:52 +0000

I live in Plumstead, SE18 and if only it was just helicopters during the daytime I would not mind.
For the last few months we are blighted any time from 10pm to 1pm to helipcopters flying over our houses. Usually just a you go off to sleep!!
The occassional one would not be too bad but we get regular flights going I would assume to Woolwich Barracks. The army helicopters are larger & louder that those used by the police and are therefore more noticable.
I am at my wits end from sleepless nights and now that summer is here I will have to keep my bedroom window shut just to keep the noise down by a few decibels.
If airplanes are restrictred why not helipcopters?

By: Darren

Darren — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:10:28 +0000

Simon – Many people are effected by different noise nuisances.
London City Airport effects huge swathes of Greenwich. Remember Greenwich is just not the city centre – It stretches far down the river past the Thames Barrier.

http://londoncityairportfighttheflights.blogspot.com/

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:30:02 +0000

My goodness what a depressing article. I have lived in Greenwich for two years and I sometimes notice the helicopters but do they bother me? Not one bit. In fact I hardly more than glance up and then just keep on my way. The drunks coming out of local pubs at 1am are more of a nuisance than helicopters but even they do not detract from my quality of life and enjoying each day living in a great community in a fabulous city.

Anyone who gets that annoyed about such a small thing really needs to check their general outlook on life. I can’t believe you wrote a multi-page article on helicopters! I can’t believe I even took the time to write this…