A woman in Essex says BBQs have been ruined by planes driving past her garden Southend Airport said it regularly meets with residents to discuss options

Janet Marchant would love to enjoy the peace and quiet of her Essex garden, but she can’t, she says, because large aircraft keep driving past it.

‘The enjoyment of having people over for BBQs is ruined’ Ms Marchant The i newsletter latest news and analysis Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The homeowner claims a runway strip at Southend Airport means passenger jets now taxi just 150ft away from her back garden, disrupting her outdoor leisure time.

Ms Marchant, 67, says she’s lived in her bungalow for the past seven years, but has done so without any problems.

But she says recent changes to the airport taxiing arrangement means planes now roll past Ms Marchant’s garden up to three times an hour. They take off between 6am and 11pm every day.

She claims the constant noise and smell of fumes from the aircraft has made life for her and her neighbours a misery and is now fearful the situation is only going to get worse.

A fuming Mrs Marchant said: “You can’t have a conversation in the garden with anyone because you can’t hear them.

“When we are inside with the door closed we have to pause the TV until the plane has gone past.

“We worry about our grandchildren coming around and the enjoyment of having people over for BBQs is ruined.

“I love my garden and used to do a lot of gardening but now it is all spoilt with the noise and the smell.”

A plane at the bottom of the garden

Ms Marchant is also worried about what the change in airport operations will do to the value of her home.

“You do worry if you have a house viewing and there’s a huge plane sat at the bottom of the garden,” she said.

“Every plane is legitimate, but it’s a nuisance. Is it morally right? I don’t know what to do – I have done everything.”

Ms Marchant said problems began in November 2017 when the airport reintroduced its Charlie Taxiway, which is the route used for planes taking off from the east runway.

The homeowner said she was shocked to discover the change and exclaimed to her partner, “There’s a bloody great jet in our garden!” on the morning of the first use.

A spokesperson from Southend Airport said: “London Southend Airport is very proud of both its long heritage, having been an airport since 1914, and the important, positive role it plays in the community.

“We appreciate that the Wells Avenue properties were built close to the Charlie Taxiway, and are currently engaging with those residents through quarterly meetings and are actively investigating active measures to reduce noise.

“The airport has ambitious plans to grow, and will continue to work closely with the CAA to ensure the airport remains safe and environmentally responsible for all our stakeholders.

“We have recorded and investigated over 430 individual complaints and found that in every case, the aircraft concerned was operating normally, legitimately and within the Airports operating framework.

“It is worth noting they are suspended, not banned and that the decision was made by the ACC, not the airport.”

Around 1.4m passengers passed through Southend airport in 2018. Ryanair, Logaiar and Flybe operate from the airport.