GLASGOW Airport could have to re-run its consultation into new take-off and landing routes in the area, it has been confirmed.

Changes to what the UK requires when asking residents about such major changes have been clarified since the airport started its 13-week consultation.

But their parallel draft noise consultation, which affects Clydebank more than the routes changes and has not been without criticism, finishes Friday and will be unaffected.

Clydebank MSP Gil Paterson said: “This is a very unsatisfactory situation and I am fairly sure many members of the public will be rather annoyed, which I can well understand as I am not best pleased with this outcome myself.

“Therefore, answers need to be given on just how this has come about, and I intend to get them.”

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved the airport’s consultation to overhaul its routes for the first time in decades. But then they “clarified” with the Department for Transport (DfT) how such consultations have to be run.

A spokesman insisted it “ensures greater transparency, community engagement and analysis for proposals”.

He said: “For Glasgow Airport, this means their proposal will be assessed against the criteria of the new airspace change process. While this will require more work from the airport, we expect much of their completed work to date may meet some of the requirements of our new process.

“We understand that this will be frustrating to Glasgow Airport and the local community, and we want to be clear that this does not reflect any judgement about the quality of the airport’s consultation to date.

“We have explained this decision to the airport, and will work with them so that they understand the full requirements of the new airspace change process.”

Nearly 90 people turned out to a public meeting in Whitecrook last month to voice their concerns about the persistent noise disruption, particularly overnight flights from Glasgow Airport. The only local formal consultation on the draft noise plan was in Clydebank Town Hall.

A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said they followed an agreed process for their airspace consultation after two years of planning.

He added: “We have been informed by the CAA that it has received clarification from the DfT on the transitional arrangements relating to the new airspace change process. The result is a decision by the CAA to assess our proposals against the criteria of the new airspace change process.

“We will continue our work with the CAA to ascertain what is required in order to satisfy the new process. In the meantime, we would encourage those who have not already done so, to share their views before the consultation closes on Friday, April 13.”

The noise consultation can be found at glasgowairport.com/noise/.