[euroderf]

The whiners are looking for windfall gains. Like people buying houses under airport landing paths.

1) Get it on the cheap cos it's noisy (or otherwise unpleasant in some specific way) there. 2) Use various legalistic/lifestyle pretexts to drive away the source of discomfort. 3) Profit!

[graemep]

I used to live in Covent Garden many years ago.

I had a neighbour who constantly, vociferously, and once or twice mildly violently, complained about noise. I had no idea why he chose to live there.

I am not sure they are looking for windfall gains. I think a mixture of stupidity and wanting to have everything ("I want to live in a lively city centre with lots of places to go out to in the evening that is quiet when i want to sleep").

[88]

Same as those advancing the anti-motorist policies mentioned in the article.

Buy property on the cheap because it’s on a busy road. Campaign to have the road fully/partially blocked to motor traffic, and/or speed limit reduced to something ridiculous (20mph) so motorists end up using other routes to make progress.

If challenged, claim it’s all about the safety of children walking to school. You’d have to be a monster to deny those windfall gains.