Sir, – The anonymous letter in The Herald of September 19 concerning the Farnborough Airfield is typical of some of the complaints by those who would want the Farnborough airfield to go but never realise what would replace its use – one huge building site. People seem to forget that after the last war the airfield was busier than Heathrow but since the military have gone it has become very much quieter.

I have lived in the next street to the airfield for over 30 years and find no reason to complain – most of the aircraft appear to take off over my house at a good height and don't cause any undue noise. In the days of the military, the RAF Lightning aircraft were very noisy, as I can confirm because I was working near the east end of the runway where they took off. In comparison to the military aircraft the private jets are just a whisper. You will get very much more noise at a rock concert but nobody complains about that.

I regularly visit friends situated in the flight path here in Farnborough and contrary to your correspondent find that these business aircraft do not create "continuous noise". What people forget is that quite a few of the objectors used to work on the airfield and, as a result, retired with a very good pension, thank you. Also they bought their houses knowing that they were situated in the flight path. Lastly, there are those pundits who say it is not safe just because, on the law of averages, we are due for an accident even though the airfield has a good safety record.

H M Holmden, Cambridge Road West, Farnborough