Warning of noise from east and west if new flight paths adopted

Changes to Edinburgh Airport flight paths pose a double threat to south Fife, according to a local councillor.

If preferred new routes are adopted, aircraft will be lower and noisier as they fly over the area during both easterly and westerly winds claimed councillor Dave Dempsey.

He said Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay ward is impacted by three of the eight preferred flight paths and North Queensferry could be under a preferred path 365 days of the year.

Mr Dempsey said: “The object of the exercise is to use newer technology to get planes in and out more frequently.

“In part, this is achieved by tighter turns so that aircraft can end up passing over the Fife coast sooner after take-off.

“Sooner means lower, lower means noisier.”

Preferred routes for eastbound take-offs include E6 which notionally overflies North Queensferry but, he said, was likely to affect Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay. Another eastbound route, F2a, goes straight over Dalgety Bay and on north.

The second issue, he said, was west-bound take-off route D0 also over North Queensferry.

Edinburgh Airport is consulting the public until May and Mr Dempsey urged people to take part or lobby their MP.

He said: “I’ve attended three public meetings on this and my feeling is that Edinburgh Airport is consulting but doesn’t think there are any alternatives.

“However, it doesn’t make the final decision. That lies with the Civil Aviation Authority.

“Everyone on the south Fife coast from Limekilns to at least Aberdour has a stake in this and should take the opportunity to respond.”