Defra publishes airport noise maps

A series of maps showing environmental noise around 18 major airports in England has been published by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The mapping, carried out during 2006-07 in line with the EU`s Environmental Noise Directive, gives details of daytime and night time noise levels at each airport as well as noise levels around each site on an average day in 2006. The maps will be used to draw up action plans to address the noise climate around each airport and will include descriptions of the measures that will be taken to reduce environmental noise.