A parish council in North Herts has received grant funding to help them monitor aircraft noise.

Kings Walden Parish Council received £1,500 from North Hertfordshire District Council's (NHDC) Southern Rural Committee towards the purchase of aircraft noise monitoring equipment.

The village of Breachwood Green is located directly under the flight path for London Luton Airport and noise from the aircraft can impact significantly on the daily lives of residents who live in the village and the surrounding areas.

Data from the monitoring equipment will be made available to residents and local government to view, who can use it to monitor the ongoing sound levels caused by aircraft taking off and landing at the nearby airport.

Results will also be shared with the London Luton Airport Consultative Committee and local resident group LADACAN (Luton And District Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise).

In the past the Parish Council has used equipment which was on loan from the airport but this funding will enable them to have their own equipment and make their own measurements.

Amanda King, chair of Kings Walden Parish Council said: "The parish council is delighted to be awarded a grant towards noise monitoring equipment.

"Breachwood Green is directly in the Luton airport flight path and less than a mile from the runway.

"The ability to independently monitor noise levels will help in our work with the airport operator."

London Luton Airport, located in Bedfordshire, near to Hitchin and north Herts has suffered this year due to a slump in passenger numbers.

Total footfall from the latest figures found in the monthly passenger and statistics report on the airport, show that the figure for total passengers arriving and departing at Luton are 10,136,086 - down from 17,625,228 a year ago, resulting in a drop of 42.5%.

However, despite the Covid crisis biting hard on the airline industry, the move has been welcomed by many.

Councillor Claire Strong, chair of the Southern Rural Committee added: "We appreciate how much noise pollution can affect our residents and it is important that it is able to be monitored in this way.

"The airport does help the local economy greatly, but there should be a balance between that and any significant impact from over flying planes on those who live nearby.

"The grant funding will now give Kings Walden Parish Council the opportunity to monitor overhead noise whenever they need to independently."

To find out more about Community Grants and if an organisation that you represent may be eligible visit