FURIOUS villagers have said their lives are being “ruined” by a “noisy” Aston Martin helipad just metres from their homes.
Disgruntled locals in Lighthorne Heath, Warwickshire, say their tranquil lives have been disrupted by the car giant using the landing spot at Gaydon.
Change.org / Ben RobinsonLocals in Lighthorne Heath are fuming at a noisy helipad used by Aston Martin[/caption]
Change.org / Ben RobinsonBen Robinson, an Upper Lighthorne Parish councillor, claims that the helicopter arrivals are disrupting residents’ lives[/caption]
They say the helipad, just metres away from homes, gardens and playgrounds, is being used without planning permission and is often used several times a day and late into the night.
Ben Robinson, an Upper Lighthorne Parish councillor, claims that the helicopter arrivals wake up those trying to sleep, young children, those trying to sleep from night shift work.
He said that it is also having “untold affects on health, mental health, and concerns for safety”.
The parish councillor claims that attempts to speak to the global name have fallen on deaf ears.
However, Aston Martin has told The Sun they are working on measures to “minimise disruption” for their neighbours.
They are also seeking planning permission for new landing area but stress that this is a “complex matter” and may take some time.
Cllr Robinson’s frustration has led him to set-up a petition as a “concerned resident”, demanding action is taken.
The petition calls on the company to stop using the helipad, which he claims leads to helicopters landing just metres away from homes, gardens, and playgrounds.
It reads: “This is a pressing issue that is affecting our community’s well-being.
“The illegal helipad being used at Aston Martin and the resulting frequent low helicopter landings have become a significant source of noise pollution, posing serious health hazards to our residents.
“It is crucial that we take action now to protect the tranquility and safety of our village.”
At the time of writing the petition has racked up 119 signatures.
But Aston Martin confirmed that it has been working with local residents and parish councillors in a bid to reduce problems caused by the use of the helipad.
An Aston Martin spokesman told The Sun: “As a global business, Aston Martin sometimes welcomes international investors, high value customers and supplier partners to our Warwickshire headquarters, some of which choose to arrive by air.
“Whilst these helicopter movements are essential to our business activities, we are working proactively on measures to minimise disruption for our neighbours.
“This matter remains part of an ongoing planning process.”
Aston Martin is looking for a new location for a landing pad and planning permission is being sought for this to be based on current car parking land within an industrial section of its site.
Aston Martin say they are aware of the matter and has sought to respond to any questions or concerns raised to us by local residents who have contacted them.
But the helipad currently remains in use as it goes through the planning process.
The firm add that any helicopter movements at the Gaydon site are in relation to essential business activities, supporting jobs and the local economy.
However, there are also concerns that all helicopter flights spotted in the area are being attributed to the car giant.
Aston Martin says that “flight logs have confirmed otherwise” despite these assumptions.
The spokesman added: “We are also aware that the RAF does fly, regularly, at low level over the Aston Martin site at Gaydon.”
The car giant says they have also established specific flying and landing windows and evaluating the most suitable landing locations on their site.
An application for planning permission for the helipad was refused by Stratford District Council in 2022.
Councillors refused the application on the grounds they believed it would result in significant harm to the residential properties of Lighthorne Heath and unacceptable noise levels.
A second application for the helipad was submitted in 2023 but a date has not yet been set for it to go before a planning committee.
Change.org / Ben RobinsonThere were 199 signatures at the time of writing[/caption]