• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About TLE
  • Advertise
SUPPORT FREE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Private school helicopter landings put the wind up Hampstead residents

Neighbours in super-posh Hampstead say they were not informed of the plans - and the vibrations and noise from the choppers sets off their home security systems

Ben Gelblum by Ben Gelblum
October 12, 2018
in News, Property
Private school helicopter landings put the wind up Hampstead residents

A private school has decided to stop allowing helicopters to land in its playing fields after wealthy residents moaned they were setting off their burglar alarms.

Neighbours in super-posh Hampstead, home to celebs like Liam Gallagher and Michael MacIntyre, say they were not informed of the plans – and the vibrations and noise from the choppers sets off their home security systems.

University College School Hampstead, which is part of the elite Eton Group, owns the playing fields near Hampstead Cemetery in west London and was also slammed for allowing the helicopters to land just metres away from schoolchildren in PE lessons.

But the school says it only gave permission for a limited number of landings to take place in the middle of the 27 acre playing fields in return for a donation to its rugby team.

And after a number of complaints from residents it has decided not to let any more helicopters land on the fields.

Properties in the affluent area can fetch up to as much as £5million, according to Zoopla.

Famous residents of Hampstead include Boy George, actors Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch and comedian Michael MacIntyre.

RelatedPosts

First New Zealand volcano victim named amid grim discoveries by divers

Elderly driver reverses through window of Tesco cafe packed with Christmas shoppers

Sue you later alligator? – Louisiana sues California over alligator ban

Divers in near zero visibility search for victims of New Zealand volcano

Nigel Stock, operations manager for UCS, said: “The school gave permission for a limited number of landings to take place in the middle of our 27 acre playing fields and, in return, a donation was made in support of rugby at UCS.

“The aviation company fully comply with both planning and aviation law in the operation of their aircraft. School staff were in attendance when the landings took place.

“A small number of residents contacted the school with regard to the landings and received prompt replies, giving them full details of the arrangement and the name of the company who operate the aircraft.

“Pupils at UCS were allowed to talk to the pilot and view the helicopter when it landed.

“There is no commercial contract with the operators of the helicopter or any intention that regular landings will take place.

“Indeed, following this trial, and with fuller use of the newly-seeded playing fields anticipated soon, we have decided to halt this activity with immediate effect and we can confirm there will be no more helicopter landings on UCS playing fields.”

One neighbour said the landings by Elite Helicopters, which is based in West Sussex and Surrey, set off burglar alarms in the area.

Lorraine Myers said: “We were on holiday but our neighbours told us what happened.

“Apparently it set off a number of burglar alarms.

“We didn’t know anything about it in advance.”

Another resident said: “We have quite a good neighbourhood watch in the area and I believe they are involved in speaking to the school about the helicopter landings.”

It is believed there have been seven landings on one of the playing fields already this month, and a large ‘H’ has now been painted on the grass.

Local MP Mike Freer said he has also raised concerns about “safety and disturbance”.

The Finchley and Golders Green MP said: “I am aware of the issue and am raising it with the Civil Aviation Authority and UCS.

“Clearly, there are questions about safety and disturbance to residents in what is a built up area.”

By Ben Gelblum and Adela Whittingham

Support free independent investigative journalismSupport free independent investigative journalismSupport free independent investigative journalism
Ben Gelblum

Ben Gelblum

Contributing & Investigations Editor & Director of Growth wears glasses and curly hair cool ideas to: ben.gelblum (at) thelondoneconomic.com @BenGelblum

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending
Jeremy Corbyn is the most smeared politician in history

Jeremy Corbyn is the most smeared politician in history

The story of how the Conservatives crippled the country

The British Government has ruined my life

SWNS Pictures of the Year 2015 - One hundred of the most compelling images on the SWNS wire this year as chosen by our picture editors. Refugees from Syria leave Glasgow Airport in five coaches in heavy rain, November 17, 2015, from where they will be dispersed to their new homes within Scotland. See SWNS story SWREFUGEE: The first charter flight carrying Syrian refugees arrived in the UK yesterday (Tues) as part of the Government's resettlement scheme. Around 100 people were transported by plane from refugee camps in the Middle East, travelling from Beirut in Lebanon to Glasgow Airport. Many have been described as vulnerable and some had stayed in camps for up to four years. Landing in Glasgow at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon, the first arrivals were expected to be resettled by local authorities across the country, including Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Lift The Ban petition reveals staggering cost to UK economy of asylum seekers being banned from working

Latest from TLE

Police arrive at the London Bridge attack

Vilification, contempt and cutbacks: our police are constantly let down by politicians

Widdecombe

Brexit Party reactionary Ann Widdecombe lost to an openly gay remainer in the election

Jo Swinson

Jo Swinson vowed to stop Brexit. But she did more than anybody else to make it happen

Corbyn in Bristol

‘Politics of hope must prevail’ Jeremy Corbyn apologises for election loss

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

TLE,
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About TLE
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.