A WAR of words has broken out between Glasgow Airport and a campaign group over protecting homes from the noise of landing aeroplanes.

The long-running dispute took another turn last week after members of the Whitecrook Area Noise Association (WANA) met with airport chief executive Ronald Leitch to seek a commitment on plans to insulate homes underneath the flight path.

The Clydebank campaigners want airport chiefs to retrofit sample houses in the Whitecrook area with noise mitigation tools, as sound from planes coming into Glasgow continues to cause havoc with residents' lives.

They claim this pilot scheme was promised to them by both the airport and West Dunbartonshire Council in 2019 before Covid brought the world and air travel to a standstill.

However, speaking exclusively to the Clydebank Post, a spokesperson for Glasgow Airport explained the drop in aircraft traffic during Covid has prevented them from compiling accurate noise data, and they will be looking at the situation again at the end of the year.

They said: “The reduction in overall aircraft traffic as a result of COVID, coupled with the continuous improvements in technology that are making aircraft quieter, has meant the airport’s noise footprint has reduced considerably.

“We do, however, recognise it is still an issue for many and would encourage residents from our neighbouring communities to engage with us on the current Airspace Change Programme when the public consultation phase begins next year.

“Later this year, we will be engaging with local communities on our revised Noise Action Plan. This will set out our approach to the management of and, as far as reasonably practicable, reduction in total adverse effects of aviation noise. It will once again provide an opportunity for those who live local to the airport to play their part in informing and shaping our approach.”

Former MSP and long-time noise-level activist Gil Paterson joined WANA member Joe Henry at the meeting and a spokesperson told the Post they didn’t get what they wanted from the discussion.

WANA said: “Gil and Joe were left extremely disappointed following the meeting as there was no commitment from the airport and confirmation that the planned scheme in Whitecrook will not be happening.

“It was clear from the chief executive and his staff that they have no intention of engaging with the communities affected by aircraft noise and far less to committing to any retrofit scheme for the areas worst affected.”

Previously, WANA has called on Glasgow Airport to axe all night-time flights, as they complained Whitecrook residents can’t sleep at night because of the noise levels.

But the airport insists, whilst it can’t commit to making such a move, they are open to finally finding a solution to a problem that has run for over two decades.

The airport continued: “In talking to our neighbouring communities, we know airport-related noise is an important issue. Managing noise effects is an integral part of how we grow the airport responsibly and that is why we are keen to ensure our forthcoming Noise Action Plan builds effectively upon our existing measures.

“As part of this and in line with the UK Government’s current policy, we are introducing a scheme that will provide financial contribution towards noise insulation for eligible residential properties closest to the airport. We also have a series of operating procedures in place which are designed to reduce the impact of noise at the source.”

The Post understands the communities that will benefit from the upcoming scheme will be those in areas such as Paisley and Renfrew.