RESIDENTS in a sleepy East Renfrewshire village have been told they could have noisy planes overhead every few minutes if new flightpath plans go ahead.

Uplawmoor families were informed by Glasgow Airport bosses last week that proposed changes could see as many as 70 per cent of flights travelling over the area after leaving the Paisley terminal.

Compounding this is the knowledge that noise levels would be comparable to standing next to vehicles travelling at 50 miles per hour on a dual carriageway.

Community councillor Rob Williams said: “It’s really disappointing that, despite the airport’s own design documents calling out the damage that would be done to Uplawmoor, they made no attempt to talk to us until we requested a workshop.

“We’re now left with only three weeks of the consultation period to spread the word, raise funds and get legal support.

“We’re not a big village and many of the houses and community buildings are old and poorly insulated.

“I don’t know how the primary school is going to cope when every few minutes it’s going to be impossible to talk because of the noise.”

Under current proposals, Uplawmoor residents will see around one flight take off over their homes every four minutes during the peak summer months of May to September.

John O’Donnell is among the local residents who have been left fuming.

He said: “The entire proposal to get aircraft heading south and onto their destination as fast as possible takes no regard for the health, welfare and quality of life of an entire population of a small rural village.”

Tom Arthur, MSP for Renfrewshire South, has written to residents, asking them to take part in a survey to allow him to provide feedback to airport management, as well as encouraging them to make their own submissions.

Mr Arthur said: “While I agree with residents who do not object to the proposals’ overall aims to reduce the environmental impact, cognisance must be made of the impact this will have on this specific area.

“It is vitally important that all possible solutions are explored and people are given the opportunity to engage in the process.”

Further meetings between residents, politicians and airport management are due to be held before the consultation process is complete.

A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “Last week’s meeting was an important part of our airspace change consultation and we welcomed the opportunity to hear the views of all those who attended.

“It is important to stress that what we have put forward are only proposals. We can only make changes to the departure flight paths once we have considered the views of all those who respond directly to the consultation.

“Those views will then be presented to our regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, who will ultimately make the decision on whether or not we can proceed.”